U.S. ground war “weeks to decisive victory” plan exposed, aiming to replicate the “42 Days to Defeat ISIS” myth

BlockBeats report: On March 29, news about the U.S. military gearing up for ground operations against Iran sparked a global stir. Unlike the full-scale invasion of the 2003 Iraq War, the Pentagon this time is deploying a “slash-and-decapitate” tactic—no occupation of territory, no prolonged war—aimed directly at Iran’s oil lifeline, Khark Island, in a bid to recreate the glory of the 1991 Gulf War with a “quick victory within weeks” plan.

According to comprehensive reports from foreign media, the Pentagon is preparing a limited ground operation lasting several weeks, rather than a full-scale, occupation-style invasion. Currently, thousands of U.S. Marine Corps personnel and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed to the Middle East. Among them, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, about 3,500 personnel, are aboard the amphibious assault ship “Tripoli,” heading directly into the core waters of the Persian Gulf.

On the 26th, the U.S. military stated that it is considering deploying up to 10,000 ground combat troops, including infantry and armored forces, with a total force scale only one percent of that used in the Iraq War, completely abandoning the large-scale invasion mode of a million troops. The Pentagon’s strategic intent is very clear: to abandon costly and risky full occupation, and instead focus on “economic strangulation warfare.” Its core tactical target is directly aimed at Iran’s southwestern oil-producing regions and the Strait of Hormuz choke point, with a particular focus on Iran’s key oil export hub—Khark Island. This island accounts for over 90% of Iran’s oil exports and is considered the lifeline of Iran’s economy.

According to PolyBeats monitoring, the probability of U.S. forces entering Iran before the end of this month on the prediction market Polymarket has dropped to 5%, and the probability before the end of April is 64%.