US Plans Ground Assault, Over 1 Million Iranian Citizens Mobilised

Jakarta (ANTARA) - More than one million Iranian citizens have been mobilised to face the possibility of a ground confrontation with United States (US) forces, according to Mehr news agency on Thursday (26/3), citing several sources.

On Wednesday, the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal, quoting several US Congress members, reported that a US ground operation in Iran is suspected to have been planned and could begin soon.

In response to the US plan for a ground assault, Iranian military media stated via platform X on Thursday (26/3) that Iran is ready to welcome the arrival of American soldiers.

“To all American soldiers! We hope you have been informed that #IRAN is where Palestinian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Yemeni fighters train their ground combat skills very professionally!” the media wrote. “Welcome to Iran, friends!”

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks on several targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and killing civilians.

Iran then retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

The US and Israel initially claimed that the “preliminary strikes” were necessary to counter threats from Iran’s nuclear programme, but later stated that the goal was to change the ruling regime in Iran.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fell on the first day of the US-Israel military operation. The Iranian government then declared a 40-day mourning period.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei’s killing as a cynical violation of international law, according to RIA Novosti reports cited by Sputnik.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US-Israel operation and called for immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti-OANA