Trump admin. undertakes heavy preparations for potential use of ground troops

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Washington — Pentagon officials person made elaborate preparations for deploying U.S. crushed forces into Iran, aggregate sources briefed connected the discussions told CBS News.

Senior subject commanders person submitted circumstantial requests aimed astatine preparing for specified an enactment arsenic President Trump weighs moves successful the U.S.-Israel-led struggle with Iran, the sources said.

Mr. Trump has been deliberating whether to presumption crushed forces successful the region, sources said connected information of anonymity due to the fact that they were not authorized to talk publicly. It was unclear nether what circumstances helium would authorize the usage of troops connected the ground.

"No, I'm not putting troops anywhere," helium told reporters successful the Oval Office connected Thursday erstwhile asked astir crushed troops, but rapidly added: "If I were, I surely wouldn't archer you."

Officials astatine U.S. Central Command referred questions from CBS News to the White House and Pentagon.

White House property caput Karoline Leavitt said successful a statement: "It's the occupation of the Pentagon to marque preparations successful bid to springiness the Commander successful Chief maximum optionality, it does not mean the President has made a decision, and arsenic the President said successful the Oval Office yesterday, helium is not readying to nonstop crushed troops anyplace astatine this time."

The subject has besides held meetings to hole for however to grip the imaginable detention of Iranian soldiers and paramilitary operatives if the president decides to enactment American boots connected the crushed – including wherever the Iranians would beryllium sent, 2 sources said.

The U.S. is preparing to deploy elements of the 82nd Airborne Division into the Middle East region.

The readying involves the Army's Global Response Force and the Marine Corps' Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Thousands of Marines are being moved present to the Middle East. Three warships and astir 2,200 Marines from an expeditionary portion departed California earlier this week, according to 2 U.S. officials. It was the 2nd specified Marine portion sent since the warfare began, and it could beryllium a fewer weeks earlier it's successful place. The archetypal was sent from the Pacific and is inactive making its mode into the region.

The movements underscore the Pentagon's effort to grow subject options disposable to the president, adjacent arsenic medication officials publically diminution to sermon imaginable adjacent steps.

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