Hinting that U.S boots on the ground in Iran could be just days away, satellite images have captured USS Tripoli, the America-class amphibious assault ship, speeding through Singapore with 2000 marines. This comes as the US explores a possible invasion of Iran’s oil hub, the Kharg Island.
USS Tripoli was seen cruising through the Malacca Strait towards the Middle East on Wednesday. The ship departed Okinawa in Japan on the 11th and was confirmed via the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to have passed through the Malacca Strait near Singapore on March 17. At this navigation speed, it is estimated that the vessel will arrive near the Strait of Hormuz between March 23 and 27.
It is expected that over 2,200 U.S. Marines would seize the islands scattered around the Strait of Hormuz. The Kharg Island is located approximately 450 kilometres north of the Strait of Hormuz, and about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through this island.
It is expected that the island-seizing operation could be conducted via a maritime assault, deploying landing craft loaded with marines and equipment. They can either insert these forces directly on the coast or conduct an airborne assault using F-35B fighter jets and helicopters designed to land without runways. These aircraft could launch from ships or nearby Gulf countries, as several countries, including the UAE, have allowed the U.S. military to fire surface-to-surface missiles from their bases.
The U.S. Marines could also occupy other islands in the Persian Gulf to block Iran’s speedboat activities and secure strategic positions to intercept and shoot down missiles targeting ships passing through the Strait.
For the US, occupying these islands, where Iran has built oil hubs and missile launchers, could be a bargaining chip in negotiations to ensure the safe passage of oil tankers and cargo ships.
Frank McKenzie, former commander of U.S. Central Command, told The Wall Street Journal: “There are two options: either destroy the oil infrastructure, causing irreversible damage to Iran’s and the global economy, or occupy it and use it as a negotiating lever. The latter would not permanently damage the global economy.”
Besides Kharg Island, the US Marines could also occupy other islands in the region so as to block speedboats and secure strategic positions to intercept and shoot down missiles.
However, geopolitical experts question how taking over Kharg Island would stop the Iranians from attacking ships and critical infrastructure to keep control over the energy exports in the region.
Then there are fears that such a move could almost certainly lead to more casualties in the war and not bring Iran to the negotiating table. Experts feel that Iran may be able to outlast the crisis even without the control of the island.
However, the US military is yet to clearly state what the mission of the marines sent to the Middle East would be. Speculations are that rather than seizing Kharg Island, they could also be ordered into a different mission — to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, which their ships would need to transit before getting to the island.