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‘No single soldier will be left alive’: Iran issues stern warning amid reports of possible US-Israeli ground op

April 17, 2026

Iran’s military said on 16 April that orders have been given for “not a single” US or Israeli soldier to be left alive in the event that Washington launches a ground operation against the Islamic Republic.

“An order has been issued by the Iranian army’s commander-in-chief that in case of ground invasion, decisive actions will have to be taken,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Akraminia added that Iranian army chief Amir Khatami “emphasized that not a single aggressor should survive.”

His comments came after US officials told the Washington Post that the Pentagon was still considering “ground operations” and additional airstrikes against Iran if the ceasefire fails to hold.

“The Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops into the [region] in the coming days,” the report said, adding that Washington is “considering the possibility of additional strikes or ground operations if a fragile ceasefire does not hold.”

“US forces involved in Trump’s blockade are probably on the lookout for ships suspected of supporting Iran. Armed boarding teams from the Navy SEALs, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard are trained to seize vessels, whether their crews cooperate with US forces or not,” a former senior defense official was cited as saying.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump “has wisely kept all options on the table in the event that the Iranians will not forgo their nuclear ambitions and make a deal that is acceptable to the US.”

Just two days ago, the Russian Security Council said ceasefire negotiations could be a cover used by Washington to prepare for a ground war.

“The United States and Israel can use the peace talks to prepare for a ground operation against Iran, as the Pentagon continues to increase US troop numbers in the region,” read the statement, released on 14 April.

“There are also about 500 units of US Air Force aircraft on the airfields in the region including more than 250 tactical aircraft, as well as over 20 US Navy ships. As stated by US President Donald Trump, these forces will remain in their positions ‘near Iran’ until Tehran fulfills the conditions set by Washington,” it added.

According to the council, there are 50,000 US troops in the region, including 2,500 marines and soldiers from other elite units.

“We should also expect active actions by the coalition forces to replenish strike and anti-missile weapons, as well as significant activity by intelligence forces,” the Russian Security Council went on to say.

Multiple western media reports said last month that Trump was considering a ground attack and the seizure of Kharg Island, where the majority of Iranian oil exports are processed.

According to a March CNN report, Tehran has laid traps across the island. Officials cited in the report said any invading troops on Kharg would be susceptible to ballistic missile and drone hits, given the proximity to the Iranian coast.

The US military lost multiple aircraft in Iran in early April during efforts to rescue a downed fighter pilot.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the US operation may have been a secret attempt to infiltrate Isfahan and steal enriched uranium. According to Iranian media, this plot was thwarted.

Weeks after the war started in late February, an Iranian military source told Tasnim News Agency that Tehran is mobilizing one million soldiers to repel any potential ground invasion launched by the US army.