Trump said the US currently has no plan to deploy ground troops into Iran, with military operations still centered on precision airstrikes. The remark briefly eased concerns about an immediate escalation, but the broader conflict in the Middle East remains active.
Trump says ground deployment would require a very strong reason
According to the report, Trump told reporters while traveling to Miami that there is “no plan” for a ground operation at this stage. He said any decision to use ground forces would need a very strong reason. The report also said he rejected Kurdish armed involvement to avoid making the situation more complicated.
That statement did not change the direction of the campaign. The report said US and Israeli forces are still pressing ahead with operations codenamed “Epic Fury” and “Roaring Lion,” with air power remaining the main tool.
More than 3,000 targets destroyed by March 7
The report said the joint campaign began on February 28. Since then, US and Israeli forces have used B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster munitions against Iranian nuclear facilities, missile factories, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters. By March 7, the number of destroyed targets had exceeded 3,000, including underground missile factories and nuclear sites.
Other battlefield figures in the report included roughly 9 to 43 Iranian vessels sunk. On casualties, at least 555 people were reported killed on the Iranian side, while the US military lost 6 personnel at a base in Kuwait. Citing a Pentagon statement, the report said the White House believes the operation is moving faster than expected, though Iran has vowed retaliation and the threat to block the Strait of Hormuz remains in place.
Bitcoin drops to $67,300 as risk sentiment worsens
In markets, geopolitical tension kept risk-off sentiment elevated. The report said analysts see oil potentially rising to $150 per barrel. At the time of publication, Bitcoin was trading at about $67,300, with no clear sign that safe-haven flows were moving into crypto.
Bitcoin had slipped into the $67,000 range. The report said prices could retest lower levels in the short term if the conflict intensifies, while market expectations over the next few weeks are likely to swing between a quick end to the conflict and a retaliation-driven inflation shock.