25.03.2026 07:00
The war between the US-Israel and Iran has entered its 26th day. The claim that the Pentagon is preparing to send approximately 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in support of the war has resonated widely in the public, and Iran's response to this move was swift. Iran's Religious Leader Khamenei's representative, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, said, "We have been waiting for the Americans to come to the designated points for years. Good, come even closer."
As the war between the US-Israel and Iran continues with full intensity on its 26th day, the mutual statements from both sides and the claims made have escalated the tension significantly.
CLAIM THAT ALARMS THE WORLD
The American Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing two US officials, that the Pentagon is preparing to send troops to the Middle East.
"NO OFFICIAL ORDER HAS BEEN GIVEN YET"
The report stated that approximately 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division are in the final stages of being sent to the Middle East by the Pentagon for the purpose of "supporting the war with Iran," but no official order has been given yet.
WILL GROUND TROOPS BE SENT TO IRAN?
The combat brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division serves as the US Army's "rapid response force" and can be deployed anywhere in the world within 24 hours. This unit is trained to parachute into contested areas to seize airports and terrains. Furthermore, the same report included claims that US officials have not yet made a decision regarding "sending ground troops to Iran."
WSJ also noted in its report that the 82nd Division could be involved in an operation aimed at forcibly reopening the Strait of Hormuz or in an operation to seize Iran's strategic islands or coastline.
IRAN'S RESPONSE WAS PROMPT
Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the representative of Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in the Defense Council, made a statement regarding the claims in the US media that the US Department of Defense is preparing to send approximately 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East.
"WE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR 20 YEARS"
Ahmadian emphasized in a post on his social media account that Iran has been preparing for a potential military scenario for a long time, stating, "We have been waiting for the Americans to arrive at designated points for years, and we have been preparing with an asymmetric warfare strategy for over twenty years. Now we have a single message for US soldiers: Good, come closer."
US-ISRAEL'S ATTACKS ON IRAN
While negotiations continue between the Tehran and Washington administrations, Israel and the US launched a military attack on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with attacks on targets it identified in several regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, where US bases are located, in addition to Israel. In the US-Israel attacks, many high-ranking officials, including former Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, were killed.