Expectations regarding the future of the ongoing military conflict with Iran are increasing, while media reports indicate the possibility of the war entering a new phase that includes ground operations inside Iranian territory.
In this context, researcher Orit Perloff from the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv (INSS) re-published a tweet by Lebanese journalist Khaled Mumtaz, in which he predicted that the war would enter a “second phase” in the coming days, a phase he described as potentially long and complex.
According to an excellent analysis, this phase is likely to include a series of qualitative military operations, including landings and ground operations deep into Iranian territory, especially in areas linked to the nuclear program such as Isfahan, Fordo and Arak. He also expected an attempt to control Iranian coastal cities, led by Bandar Abbas, in addition to moving towards strategic islands such as Kharg, Kish, and Qeshm.
In addition, he pointed out the possibility of internal movements occurring in Iran in conjunction with the military escalation, including opposition activities in the Kurdish and Ahwazi Arab areas, in addition to movements within the capital, Tehran.
This analysis comes in light of the escalation of US military operations against Iranian targets. US President Donald Trump announced that US Central Command carried out strikes targeting military facilities on the Iranian island of Kharg, explaining in a post on his platform that US forces “destroyed all military targets” on the island.
However, Trump confirmed that he chose at this stage not to target the oil infrastructure on the island, indicating that he made the decision “out of fairness,” but at the same time he warned that he may change this position immediately if Iran tries to disrupt navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kharg Island is of great strategic importance to the Iranian economy, as it is located about 25 kilometers from the Iranian coast and is the main center for Iranian oil export. Global energy market data indicate that about 90 percent of Iranian crude oil exports pass through ports and oil facilities located on the island.
The island also includes huge facilities for storing tens of millions of barrels of oil, in addition to ports capable of loading giant oil tankers, making it an essential economic artery for financing the Iranian state and the activities of the Revolutionary Guard.
In the same context, Trump had indicated in previous statements the possibility of expanding military operations. In an interview with CNN on March 2, 2026, he said that “most of the force has not been used yet,” adding: “We have not started yet. We will hit them with greater force, and the big wave has not yet come.”
He also stated in another interview with the New York Post that he does not rule out sending ground forces to Iran “if necessary,” which reinforces the estimates that indicate the possibility of the war moving to more extensive stages during the coming period.
