Iran: Enemy Forces Will Not Be Safe If the US Launches a Ground Attack

JAKARTA - The commander of the Iranian Army, Amir Hatami, warned that no enemy forces should survive if the US tried to launch a ground invasion of Tehran.

"If the enemy tries a ground operation, no one can survive," Hatami said in comments broadcast by state television station IRIB on Thursday, April 1, reported by ANTARA from Anadolu.

Hatami said military leaders had instructed operational commanders to monitor the movements of US forces carefully and respond in a timely manner.

"It is important to monitor the movements and actions of the enemy very carefully and very carefully, from time to time, and to implement plans to counter its methods of attack at the right time," he said.

"The shadow of war must be removed from our country, and security must be established for all," he said, adding.

On Saturday (28/3), The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon was preparing for a possible ground operation in Iran as thousands of US troops were deployed to the Middle East. The implementation of this operation is said to still await a decision from US President Donald Trump.

US officials said the plan could mark a "new phase of the war" that may be "far more dangerous" for US forces than the first four weeks of fighting, according to the newspaper.

Pentagon discussions include potential operations targeting Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, and coastal attacks near the Strait of Hormuz to neutralize threats to shipping.

Officials said the possible mission could last for "several weeks".

Thirteen US soldiers have been killed and more than 300 wounded in attacks across the region since the war began in late February, officials say.

Regional escalation continues since Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran on February 28. The attack killed more than 1,340 victims to date, including the then Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.

Iran then retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. These retaliatory attacks caused casualties and infrastructure damage, as well as disrupting global markets and flights.