President Donald Trump stated on Monday, March 2, that he has not ruled out deploying US ground troops into Iran, signaling a potential escalation of the large-scale military operation initiated on Saturday. While the current assault has been limited to aerial attacks, Trump indicated a willingness to consider "boots on the ground" if necessary, contrasting with typical presidential pronouncements. He also warned of an impending "big wave" of attacks, suggesting the current strikes are just the beginning. US and Israeli forces have targeted hundreds of Iranian sites, including missile and command-and-control facilities, with four US military members reported killed and three fighter jets downed. Iran has retaliated with missile strikes against Israel and US bases in the region. Trump justified the offensive by accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism, asserting the operation aims to neutralize these threats and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons or funding external terrorist groups. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed that troop deployment is not off the table and emphasized a focus on winning without nation-building.