Author: Michael

A United States ground invasion of Iran remains a possibility as the Trump administration has not ruled out deploying ground forces to seize strategic islands and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

While the U.S. is currently conducting an extended bombing and airstrike campaign, President Trump has explicitly declined to rule out sending American boots on the ground.

An F-15E Strike Eagle with the 4th Fighter Wing approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing to be refueled over the skies of North Carolina, Jan. 21, 2026.

100 aircraft from 21 countries ✈️🛩️🚁 Exercise Pitch Black will strengthen partnerships around the world and enhance our abilities for combat in the skies #aircraft #jets #airforce #flying

Vice President JD Vance entered the Trump administration with a clear foreign-policy identity. He was skeptical of prolonged military commitments and closely associated with Republican voters who wanted Donald Trump to avoid another open-ended Middle Eastern war. Full disclosure: I liked a lot of what he had to say, and I was a fan.

However, Iran has placed that identity under sustained pressure.

JD Vance Has a Problem 
Trump acknowledged the difference early in the conflict.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Research and Development Center is reaching out to industry for detailed information on vendors’ directed energy systems that could be deployed on vessels or piers and zap adversary drones or other “targets of interest.”
The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, but it’s also considered a military service and often deploys its platforms to support the Navy and the joint force.

This video describes the military situation in

As New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani explores ways to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, the Trump Administration has been working in the background for more than a year to undermine worldwide support for the court. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the effort as “dismantling the ICC.

Iran has vowed that “not a single drop” of gas or oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz if U.S. strikes continue in the region. The threat comes as Yemen’s Houthis declare a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia that is bringing Saudi and Gulf oil exports almost to a halt.

What the IRGC Said

(Dec. 31, 2022) An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Mighty Shrikes” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 prepares to launch from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to participate in a long-range maritime strike demonstration. Nimitz is in 7th Fleet conducting routine operations.

While rising gas prices frequently pressure the White House ahead of key elections, it is difficult to say if the current situation will pressure President Trump into making a deal.

With the upcoming midterm elections threatening the Republican slim lead in the House and the Senate, a return to lower gas prices, something President Trump has repeatedly promised with the end of the conflict, would lower inflation concerns and clear a path for a successful election season.

Generic Oil Tanker Image. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

However, the administration has taken a firm public stance.

Up close and personal with a drone killer 💥

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces widen it, revealing the texture of daily life, politics, and public argument in a nation at war.