What to know about Iran's military as the U.S. weighs ground operations - Axios

Axios
March 27, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

Iran's military has asymmetric capabilities including ballistic missiles and proxy forces that would complicate any U.S. ground campaign.

AI Summary

The Trump administration is considering ground operations in Iran as it evaluates military options, prompting analysis of Iran's military capabilities and readiness. Iran maintains a large standing army, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and proxy forces across the Middle East, though its conventional military has been constrained by decades of sanctions and lacks modern equipment compared to U.S. forces. A ground campaign would represent a significant escalation beyond current U.S. military posture in the region and would carry substantial risks to American personnel and regional stability. Iran's asymmetric capabilities—including ballistic missiles, drone networks, and allied militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon—could complicate any large-scale operation. The decision reflects heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and underscores the stakes involved in potential direct military confrontation.

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