As of late March 2026, Iran has reportedly mobilized over one million troops in response to escalating tensions and the threat of a potential US ground invasion. A significant portion of these forces is reportedly being prepared to defend Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub, and the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Pentagon is reportedly preparing for weeks of limited ground operations in Iran, although President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval for these missions. As of late March 2026, thousands of US troops are arriving in the Middle East, marking the largest buildup in the region since 2003.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said on March 26 that toppling Iran’s regime would require not only a revolution but also a “ground component,” as the US-Israeli confrontation with Tehran enters its fourth week.
It is often said that you can’t win –– you can’t do revolutions from the air, that is true. You can’t do it only from there, you can do a lot of things from the air and we’re doing –– but there has to be a ground component, as well.
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said during a press conference in Jerusalem
Iran is deploying soldiers as young as 12 years old
The million-strong force includes regular army personnel (Artesh), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij paramilitary reserves.
State-run media reports a “wave of enthusiasm” among Iranian youth, with recruitment centers seeing a massive influx of volunteers ready to defend the country. The initiative is called “For Iran” (or “Homeland Defenders of Iran”) and is focused on recruiting volunteers to assist the IRGC and the Basij paramilitary militia.
As reported by Iran International, an official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed that Iran has lowered the minimum age for participation in war-related support roles to 12 years old.
Iranian military commanders have warned that any attempt at a ground occupation would result in a “historic hell” for American forces.
According to IRGC cultural official Rahim Nadali, 12- and 13-year-olds are being recruited for non-combat support duties, including:
- Manning security checkpoints.
- Conducting intelligence and operational patrols.
- Assisting with logistical support.
- Organizing nightly car caravans and pro-government rallies.
Residents in Tehran have told AFP that they are seeing armed teenagers in plainclothes, some carrying submachine guns like Uzis or Kalashnikovs, at roadblocks and missile strike sites.
Under the Rome Statute, the recruitment or use of children under the age of 15 to participate actively in hostilities is considered a war crime.
While Iran is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the military use of children, it has not ratified the Optional Protocol that sets 18 as the minimum age for direct participation in hostilities.
Is the US looking at ground operations?
The Pentagon is reportedly considering deploying an additional 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East, supplementing the approximately 50,000 US personnel already stationed in the region.
The Pentagon has been gearing up for several weeks of targeted ground operations inside Iran, which may encompass raids on Kharg Island and nearby coastal zones along the Strait of Hormuz, per US officials cited in The Washington Post.
These limited actions, avoiding a complete invasion, would deploy special forces alongside regular infantry, leaving troops vulnerable to Iranian drones, missiles, small-arms fire, and roadside bombs, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Such missions prioritize disruption over occupation, focusing on neutralizing anti-shipping threats to restore Hormuz traffic amid the ongoing conflict. Kharg remains a prime target due to its outsized role in Iran’s oil exports.
How about Israel?
As of 31 March 2026, Israel has already initiated significant ground operations, primarily focused on expanding a “security buffer zone” in southern Lebanon rather than a direct ground invasion of mainland Iran, as reported by Reuters.
Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered a major expansion of ground operations on 29 March 2026, directing the IDF to push further into southern Lebanon to reach the Litani River.
Israeli defense sources indicate they are providing the US with intelligence for potential limited ground raids on strategic Iranian sites like Kharg Island and islands in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Israeli parliament recently approved a massive $10billion increase to the defense budget, specifically to fund emergency military purchases and prolonged multi-front warfare.
The Times of Israel reported that as the IDF completes the “bombing phase” of weapon production sites, it is shifting focus toward economic targets (e.g., steel plants and energy infrastructure) to pressure the regime, while the US prepares for potential limited ground actions to reopen global shipping lanes.
