US forces will initiate a large-scale ground invasion and occupation of Kharg Island, Iran, by December 31, 2026.

The U.S. has deployed ground-capable forces, including airborne troops and Marines, to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate and a ceasefire proposal is rejected. President Trump is reportedly considering a risky ground operation to seize Kharg Island, Iran's critical oil export hub, to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Such an operation, while potentially choking the Iranian regime, carries significant risks of dragging American troops into an open-ended conflict and facing strong Iranian defenses.