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Pentagon Officials Weigh Deployment of Airborne Troops for Iran War
Pentagon Officials Weigh Deployment of Airborne Troops for Iran War
The combat forces would come from a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division deploying from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Eastern Europe in response to the war in Ukraine in 2022. Kenny Holston for The New York Times
By Greg Jaffe and Eric Schmitt
Reporting from Washington
March 23, 2026
Senior military officials are weighing a possible deployment of a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and some elements of the division’s headquarters staff to support U.S. military operations in Iran, defense officials said. ... The officials described the military’s actions as prudent planning, noting that nothing had been ordered by the Pentagon or U.S. Central Command, which declined to comment. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing planning.
The combat forces would come from the 82nd Airborne’s “Immediate Response Force,” a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours. These forces could be used to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.
Another possibility being considered, should President Trump authorize U.S. troops to seize the island, is an attack by about 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is on its way to the region. ... The airfield on Kharg Island was damaged by the recent U.S. bombing raids so former U.S. commanders said it was more likely to first bring in Marines, whose combat engineers could quickly repair airfields and other airport infrastructure. Once the airfield is repaired, the Air Force could start flowing matériel and supplies, as well as troops, if necessary, by C-130s.
In that scenario, it is possible that the troops from the 82nd Airborne would augment the Marines. The upside of going with paratroopers is they can arrive overnight. The downside is they do not bring any heavy equipment, such as heavily armored vehicles, that would offer protection if Iranian forces counterattacked, current and former officials said. ... The Marines lack the sustainment and staying power of the forces from the 82nd Airborne, which could be used to relieve the Marine forces after the initial attack on the island, current and former officials said.
{snip}
Greg Jaffe covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military for The Times.
Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times. He has reported on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism for more than three decades.
A version of this article appears in print on March 24, 2026, Section A, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Pentagon Weighs Deploying Airborne Troops to Region. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
The combat forces would come from a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
Troops from the 82nd Airborne Division deploying from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Eastern Europe in response to the war in Ukraine in 2022. Kenny Holston for The New York Times
By Greg Jaffe and Eric Schmitt
Reporting from Washington
March 23, 2026
Senior military officials are weighing a possible deployment of a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and some elements of the division’s headquarters staff to support U.S. military operations in Iran, defense officials said. ... The officials described the military’s actions as prudent planning, noting that nothing had been ordered by the Pentagon or U.S. Central Command, which declined to comment. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing planning.
The combat forces would come from the 82nd Airborne’s “Immediate Response Force,” a brigade of about 3,000 soldiers capable of deploying anywhere in the world within 18 hours. These forces could be used to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.
Another possibility being considered, should President Trump authorize U.S. troops to seize the island, is an attack by about 2,500 troops from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is on its way to the region. ... The airfield on Kharg Island was damaged by the recent U.S. bombing raids so former U.S. commanders said it was more likely to first bring in Marines, whose combat engineers could quickly repair airfields and other airport infrastructure. Once the airfield is repaired, the Air Force could start flowing matériel and supplies, as well as troops, if necessary, by C-130s.
In that scenario, it is possible that the troops from the 82nd Airborne would augment the Marines. The upside of going with paratroopers is they can arrive overnight. The downside is they do not bring any heavy equipment, such as heavily armored vehicles, that would offer protection if Iranian forces counterattacked, current and former officials said. ... The Marines lack the sustainment and staying power of the forces from the 82nd Airborne, which could be used to relieve the Marine forces after the initial attack on the island, current and former officials said.
{snip}
Greg Jaffe covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military for The Times.
Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times. He has reported on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism for more than three decades.
A version of this article appears in print on March 24, 2026, Section A, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Pentagon Weighs Deploying Airborne Troops to Region. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe