The contradiction at the heart of the US posture toward Iran is becoming harder to ignore. Even as President Donald Trump continues to speak of negotiations and a short timeline for ending the war, he is also vowing to bomb Iran "back to stone age" if it doesn't agree to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the military signals emerging from the region point in a different direction. The gap between rhetoric and operational preparation is widening. The latest deployments, exercises and reported planning suggest that the US is not merely sustaining an air campaign but quietly building the architecture for ground engagement. Among these signals, the deployment of A-10 attack aircraft, called 'Warthogs', stands out as the clearest indicator of intent.
A-10 deployment and the logic of ground war
The New York Times has reported that the Pentagon is doubling its fleet of A-10 “Warthog” aircraft in the Middle East. 18 additional A-10s are being sent to join roughly a dozen already operating in the region. This is not a routine reinforcement. The A-10 is a highly specialised platform designed explicitly for close-air support, a role that is tightly linked to ground operations.
The NYT report says that the A-10’s defining characteristic is its ability to support advancing ground troops. Unlike high-altitude bombers or multirole fighters, the A-10 flies low and slow, loitering over the battlefield to provide sustained firepower. Its 30-millimeter cannon, capable of firing 70 shells per second, is optimised for destroying vehicles, fortifications and enemy positions in close proximity to friendly forces. This makes it indispensable in scenarios where troops are moving to seize and hold territory. These aircraft could be used to help US ground forces seize territory near the Strait of Hormuz or Kharg Island, the NYT report notes.
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The presence of A-10s suggests Iranian air defenses have been destroyed or greatly suppressed, the report says. This is a prerequisite for ground operations. The A-10 is relatively vulnerable compared to advanced fighters, so its deployment indicates confidence in air superiority. That confidence typically marks the transition from an air campaign to the next phase of war, where ground forces can operate with reduced risk from enemy air defenses.
The NYT also reports that US commanders are already using A-10s in active combat roles, including attacking Iranian boats and patrolling strategic waterways. The gradual escalation aligns with a pattern seen in past conflicts, where close-air support assets are introduced ahead of or alongside ground deployments. The A-10 deployment could be a clear signal toward preparing the battlefield for ground engagement.
Amphibious rehearsals and maritime objectives
Pentagon today released images of US Marines conducting a simulated amphibious assault at Diego Garcia. While framed as an exercise, the context is significant. A CNN report says these drills involved the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, part of an amphibious force that the network had previously reported was being deployed to the Middle East with around 2,400 Marines. Amphibious units are not general-purpose forces. They are specifically trained for coastal assaults, island seizures and rapid insertion into contested littoral zones.
The CNN report says that such Marines would likely be an important part of any US assault on islands in the Persian Gulf. This directly ties the exercise to potential operations around strategic targets like Kharg Island and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.
About 50,000 US troops are already in the region, CNN reports. This level of force concentration exceeds what is typically required for a limited air campaign. It provides the manpower necessary for sustained ground or amphibious operations, especially if the objective is to control key maritime chokepoints.
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Limited ground operations?
The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, Washington Post has reported a few days ago. The plans reportedly stop short of a full-scale invasion but include raids by special operations forces and conventional infantry.
The report identifies specific objectives such as seizing Kharg Island and conducting raids along coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz. These align closely with the possible A-10 usage. Officials tolf the Post that operations could last “weeks, not months” or possibly “a couple of months”. It suggests that what is being contemplated is a limited but intense ground campaign designed to achieve discrete objectives quickly rather than a prolonged occupation.
However, the risks involved would still remain garve. Ground operations would expose US forces to Iranian drones, missiles and improvised explosives.
White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that preparing such plans “does not mean the president has made a decision”. This reflects a familiar dynamic in US military planning, where operational readiness is developed in parallel with diplomatic messaging, allowing political leadership to retain flexibility.
Iran is readying for a ground invasion
While US preparations are becoming more visible, Iran is bracing for a ground confrontation. The regime has begun a significant recruitment push and mobilisation effort across the country. Iran has launched a mass recruitment drive, seeking to expand its pool of fighters in anticipation of a potential US ground invasion. The messaging accompanying this effort is overtly defiant. Iranian officials have warned that “Iran is where invaders are buried”, framing any ground incursion as a trap for US forces. The officials claim millions of Iranians are being prepared to resist invading troops. While such figures may be part of psychological warfare, they reflect a strategy of deterrence through the projection of mass mobilisation.
Türkiye Today reports that Tehran has launched a nationwide campaign called “Janfada”, meaning “Sacrificing Life”, aimed at recruiting civilians to defend the country against a potential US invasion. According to the report, mass text messages were sent to millions of Iranians urging them to join the effort and confront what authorities described as threats to Iran’s “shores, islands and borders” . This method of mobilisation is significant. It shows a shift from controlled military recruitment to broad-based societal enlistment, echoing wartime mass mobilisation strategies.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is actively inviting volunteers as young as 12 to participate in support roles, particularly at checkpoints and military facilities. As per several reports, children as young as 12 are being deployed at checkpoints in Tehran, assisting with patrolling, logistics and basic security duties. According to reports, the recruitment drive of children explicitly includes activities such as operational and intelligence patrols and convoy support, alongside logistical tasks.
Officials linked to the Revolutionary Guards have acknowledged that the minimum age was set at 12 in response to demand from younger volunteers. As one official explained, teenagers themselves had been requesting to take part in checkpoint and patrol duties, prompting authorities to formalise their inclusion.
The scale of the mobilisation is also notable. Reports suggest that Iranian authorities are projecting the potential involvement of millions of citizens in defensive efforts. While such figures may be inflated for deterrence, they frame the campaign as an attempt to build a mass resistance model, drawing on Iran’s experience during the long-drawn Iran-Iraq war.
At a strategic level, this mobilisation serves multiple purposes. It increases manpower in anticipation of ground incursions. It reinforces internal security through expanded checkpoint networks. And it sends a signal to the US that any invasion would face not just conventional forces but a deeply embedded and decentralised resistance.
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