Trump Weighs Kharg Island Operation as U.S. Expands Campaign to Reopen Strait of Hormuz and Experts Warn Ground Troops May Be Needed
The U.S. has escalated a multistage campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—using A‑10s and attack jets, Apache helicopters, large airstrikes (including strikes on and preparatory strikes around Kharg Island), and redeploying roughly 2,200 Marines—with the Trump administration reportedly weighing a risky seizure or blockade of Kharg Island as leverage if strikes do not force Iran to reopen the waterway. Six Western allies issued a cautious political statement supporting preparatory planning but declined to commit ships, and military and maritime experts warn that truly securing safe transit could ultimately require U.S. ground forces to seize and hold stretches of Iranian coastline, a step critics say would be high‑risk and not guarantee Iranian concessions.
📌 Key Facts
- Six U.S. Western allies issued a March 19 joint statement condemning Iran’s “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz, saying they are “ready to contribute” and begin preparatory planning — but stopped short of committing naval vessels or other forces; the push for the statement was orchestrated by the U.K. and NATO Secretary‐General Marc Rutte (with U.K. PM Keir Starmer persuading France’s Macron to drop opposition), Japan joined at the last minute, and the U.K. has sent officers to CENTCOM in Tampa; France, Germany, Italy and Japan have previously ruled out sending warships.
- U.S. and allied forces have launched a stepped‑up air campaign to reopen the strait — using low‑flying attack jets and A‑10 Warthogs repurposed to hunt small Iranian naval craft, Apache helicopter gunships (including by regional partners) to counter one‑way attack drones, and CENTCOM‑reported 5,000‑pound penetrating bombs against underground missile silos — aimed at degrading threats from fast boats, mines and cruise missiles so warships can eventually escort commercial traffic.
- Massive airstrikes on Kharg Island last Friday were described by officials as both a warning shot and preparatory shaping for a possible ground operation; U.S. officials say most island defenses were destroyed while oil pipelines and other infrastructure were left intact.
- The Trump administration is actively considering occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island: the notional plan reportedly calls for roughly a month of additional strikes to weaken Iranian forces followed by seizure of the island to use as leverage; senior officials say Mr. Trump is willing to take Kharg or launch a coastal invasion if needed.
- U.S. forces are positioning for possible ground action: three Marine units are en route (roughly 2,200 Marines pulled off an Indo‑Pacific patrol aboard three warships), and the White House and Pentagon are weighing sending additional troops to the region.
- Military and maritime experts caution that seizing Kharg or securing the strait could expose U.S. troops to high risk and might not guarantee Iranian concessions; several analysts say achieving minimal or zero attacks on shipping would probably require putting U.S. ground forces ashore to seize and hold stretches of Iranian coastline, whereas tolerating some attacks might be manageable with sustained strikes and naval escorts.
- Maritime industry concerns persist: ship captains reportedly have not been briefed on a clear U.S. plan to transit the strait, and experts warn tanker insurance costs could spike so sharply that Washington might need to guarantee compensation for wartime damage to persuade owners to sail.
- Diplomatic and logistical moves around the campaign included a U.S. request to Sri Lanka to host two arms‑loaded military aircraft before the Iran airstrikes; Sri Lanka declined the request, emphasized neutrality, and is now hosting survivors from an Iranian warship the U.S. torpedoed plus sailors from another Iranian vessel.
📊 Relevant Data
86% of low- and moderate-income Native American households in the US experience high energy burdens, paying at least 6% of their income on energy costs, compared to the national average.
December Map of the Month — Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Increased oil price uncertainty raises unemployment rates more significantly for Black and Hispanic individuals than for Whites in the US, with the effect being 2-3 times larger for these groups.
Racial and ethnic disparities in unemployment and oil price uncertainty: The case of the U.S.A. — Energy Economics
Black and Hispanic US soldiers with mild traumatic brain injury are more likely to experience work duty limitations compared to White soldiers, with odds ratios indicating higher associations for these groups.
Iran's ethnic composition includes Persians at approximately 61%, Azerbaijanis at 16%, Kurds at 10%, and other minorities making up the remainder.
A simple visual guide to Iran and its people — Al Jazeera
📰 Source Timeline (7)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 20, 2026
3:08 PM
Experts: Reopening the Strait of Hormuz may require U.S. ground troops
New information:
- Multiple military and maritime experts tell MS NOW that achieving minimal or zero attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz would likely require U.S. ground troops to seize and hold stretches of Iranian coastline if air and naval strikes prove insufficient.
- Retired Army Gen. James A. “Spider” Marks says Marines currently en route to the region are a contingency force to create a ground “buffer zone” should airstrikes not adequately suppress Iran’s ability to fire on transiting traffic.
- Jonathan Schroden of the Center for Naval Analysis distinguishes between tolerating some continued attacks on shipping — potentially manageable with extended strikes and naval escorts — and a much more demanding standard of security that would probably require putting troops ashore.
- Maritime historian Sal Mercogliano says ship captains waiting to transit the strait have not been briefed on any clear U.S. military plan, and experts warn tanker insurance costs could spike so sharply that Washington might need to guarantee compensation for any wartime damage to entice owners to sail.
1:13 PM
U.S. Military Ramps Up to Clear Strait of Hormuz
New information:
- Gen. Dan Caine publicly confirmed that low‑flying A‑10 Warthog aircraft are now being used to 'hunt and kill' IRGC fast‑attack craft in the Strait of Hormuz, a repurposing of the platform from close air support to ship‑killing roles.
- Regional allies, not named in the piece, are using Apache helicopter gunships to target Iranian one‑way attack drones threatening Gulf states and energy infrastructure.
- CENTCOM disclosed that several 5,000‑pound penetrating bombs were dropped earlier in the week on underground missile silos near the strait as part of efforts to degrade Iran’s anti‑shipping capabilities.
- Roughly 2,200 Marines embarked on three U.S. warships have been pulled off an Indo‑Pacific patrol and are now steaming toward the Persian Gulf, where options include helping clear the strait or participating in a possible seizure of Kharg Island.
9:44 AM
Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait
New information:
- Four sources tell Axios the Trump administration is actively considering occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- A source familiar with White House thinking says the notional plan is roughly a month of additional strikes to weaken Iranian forces, then seize the island and use it as leverage in negotiations.
- Three different Marine units are already en route to the region, and the White House and Pentagon are considering sending more troops.
- A senior administration official says Trump is willing to take Kharg Island or launch a coastal invasion if needed, though no decision has been made.
- Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery warns that seizing Kharg could expose U.S. troops to high risk without guaranteeing Iranian concessions and suggests escorts through the strait after about two more weeks of strikes are more likely.
- The piece confirms last Friday’s massive airstrikes on dozens of targets on Kharg were both a warning shot and preparatory shaping for a possible ground operation, with officials saying they have destroyed most defenses but left oil pipes intact.
9:34 AM
U.S. Asked to Keep Military Planes in Sri Lanka Before Iran Airstrikes
New information:
- The U.S. quietly sought Sri Lanka’s permission to land and park two arms‑loaded military aircraft on its territory two days before beginning airstrikes on Iran.
- Sri Lanka declined the request while it was also considering and ultimately rejecting an Iranian request to dock three warships, emphasizing its neutral posture.
- Sri Lanka is now hosting survivors from an Iranian warship the U.S. torpedoed off its coast days after the war began, plus sailors from another Iranian vessel.
1:00 AM
U.S. War Planes and Helicopters Kick Off Battle to Reopen Hormuz
New information:
- U.S. and allied forces have begun using low‑flying attack jets over the Strait of Hormuz sea lanes to strike Iranian naval vessels.
- Apache helicopters are actively shooting down Iranian drones as part of the same operation.
- Pentagon officials describe this as a multistage plan to reduce threats from Iranian armed boats, mines and cruise missiles that have halted traffic through the strait since early March, with a goal of eventually sending U.S. warships through and escorting commercial vessels.
March 19, 2026
3:13 PM
Six U.S. allies back potential Strait of Hormuz coalition
New information:
- Six U.S. Western allies released a joint statement on March 19 expressing support for a potential coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but stopped short of committing naval vessels or other resources.
- The U.K. and NATO Secretary General Marc Rutte orchestrated the push for the statement, with Rutte and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer persuading French President Emmanuel Macron to drop his opposition to a political declaration while deferring decisions on practical steps.
- Japan joined the statement at the last minute ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s White House meeting with President Trump, and the U.K. has already sent officers to CENTCOM in Tampa to begin coalition planning.
- The joint statement condemns Iran’s ‘de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz’ and Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and infrastructure, and says the allies are ‘ready to contribute to appropriate efforts’ and start ‘preparatory planning.’
- France, Germany, Italy and Japan have all previously ruled out sending warships during the war, and it remains unclear whether signing the statement will change those positions.