Home | News | U.S. Weighs Ground Invasion as Houthis Enter Expanding Middle East War

U.S. Weighs Ground Invasion as Houthis Enter Expanding Middle East War

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 21, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

By Oliver Johnson

March 29, 2026
6:50 pm
Los Angeles, CA

The United States is preparing for the possibility of a ground invasion of Iran as the conflict in the Middle East widens, with Iranian-backed Houthi forces entering the war and intensifying regional tensions. U.S. defense officials say military planners are developing options for limited ground operations, including special forces raids and the seizure of strategic sites along Iran’s southern coast. The plans come as thousands of U.S. Marines and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division move closer to the region, signaling a growing American military buildup. The war, now in its second month, began after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and Gulf Arab states. Since then, Iran has launched waves of missiles and drones, including strikes that have wounded U.S.

U.S. defense officials say military planners are developing options for limited ground operations, including special forces raids and the seizure of strategic sites along Iran’s southern coast. The plans come as thousands of U.S. Marines and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division move closer to the region, signaling a growing American military buildup.

The war, now in its second month, began after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and Gulf Arab states. Since then, Iran has launched waves of missiles and drones, including strikes that have wounded U.S. personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia.

(Photo: https://www.war.gov/) — (Photo: war.gov)

The situation escalated further as Yemen’s Houthi rebels formally entered the conflict. The Iran-aligned group fired ballistic missiles and drones toward Israel, marking its first direct involvement since the war began. Israeli officials said the projectiles were intercepted, though sirens sounded across southern Israel and explosions were reported in Tel Aviv.

Analysts say the Houthis’ involvement could open a new front in the war and threaten critical global shipping lanes. The group has previously targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, a vital trade route, raising concerns that renewed attacks could further disrupt international commerce already strained by the conflict and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, risks to U.S. forces in the region continue to grow. Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base over the past week have wounded dozens of American troops, underscoring the danger of deeper U.S. involvement.

Despite the military preparations, senior U.S. officials have stopped short of confirming any decision to launch a ground invasion. Donald Trump has publicly downplayed the likelihood of a full-scale war while maintaining that “all options remain on the table.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington could still achieve its objectives without deploying large numbers of ground forces.

Diplomatic efforts are continuing in parallel but have yet to produce a breakthrough. Talks involving regional powers are underway in Islamabad, while backchannel communications between Washington and Tehran remain stalled. Iran has rejected U.S. ceasefire proposals and warned that any American ground incursion would be met with a forceful response.

With the conflict expanding across multiple fronts and global economic pressures mounting, analysts warn that the introduction of U.S. ground forces could mark a turning point—potentially transforming the war into a broader and more prolonged regional confrontation.