Will Ground Troops Be Deployed? U.S. Elite 82nd Airborne Division Abruptly Cancels Training

The Washington Post (WP) reported on March 6 (local time) that the U.S. Army's recent abrupt cancellation of large-scale training for the elite airborne division's command unit has raised the possibility of their deployment in a ground operation against Iran.

According to the report, the training for the key headquarters unit of the 82nd Airborne Division, which oversees operational planning and execution for ground combat and special missions, was canceled. While other troops from the same division are continuing their training in Louisiana, members of the headquarters unit have reportedly been instructed to remain at their home base in North Carolina instead of participating in the exercises.

No official deployment orders have been issued as of yet. However, sources said that the U.S. Army is expected to soon announce plans to deploy helicopter units from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, with the actual deployment likely to take place in late spring.

A source familiar with the matter told the WP, "We are all preparing something in case of any contingency."

The Washington Post noted that, given the roles the 82nd Airborne Division has played in past conflicts, there is also discussion about the possible mobilization of the division's Immediate Response Force (IRF). This unit was previously deployed in the 2020 operation to eliminate Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the defense mission in Eastern Europe just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Regarding the possibility of deployment, the U.S. Department of Defense stated, "For operational security reasons, we do not comment on future movements or hypothetical operations," and did not provide a specific stance.

Over the past week, U.S. forces have focused on conducting airstrikes against Iran's missile stockpiles, drones, and naval vessels. Operations involving fighter jets and bombers dropping bombs directly over Iranian airspace have also continued.

President Donald Trump said that ground troops would "probably not be necessary" for military operations against Iran, but he did not entirely rule out the possibility of deployment. White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt also told reporters on March 4 that "it is not currently part of the operational plan," but added that President Trump "will not take any options off the table."

On the same day, NBC News, citing government officials and sources, reported that President Trump has shown considerable interest in the possibility of deploying U.S. ground forces against Iran in private conversations. However, the discussion has focused on deploying small-scale forces to achieve specific strategic objectives rather than a full-scale invasion. Sources added that President Trump has not yet made an official decision or issued orders regarding the deployment of ground troops.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.