Senior American officials have in recent days informed their counterparts in Israel and other countries that the United States will apparently have no choice but to launch a ground military operation to seize the Iranian island of Kharg, two sources told The Jerusalem Post.

A US representative confirmed that "US armed forces have accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East."

This operation includes the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, which comprises the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer serving as a light aircraft carrier, as well as the amphibious transport docks USS Portland and USS Comstock.

On board these three vessels are approximately 4,500 Marines and additional combat personnel.