WASHINGTON — Senior Pentagon officials are drawing up contingency plans for a substantial troop deployment to the Middle East, potentially involving up to 15,000 personnel as the Iran conflict shows no signs of abating.

Military sources indicate that the proposed reinforcements would include combat engineers, air defense units, and logistical support teams currently stationed across European and Pacific commands. The deployment timeline remains fluid, with defense planners awaiting White House approval for what could become the most significant American military escalation in the region since 2003.

"We're looking at multiple scenarios to ensure our forces have the resources they need," said General Patricia Morrison, former Joint Chiefs strategic planner now with the Atlantic Council. "This isn't just about numbers—it's about capability gaps that have emerged during sustained operations."

The potential surge comes as American casualties have mounted steadily over recent weeks, with 47 service members killed and 203 wounded since January. Iranian-backed militias have intensified attacks on US bases across Iraq and Syria, while naval assets in the Persian Gulf face increasing threats from advanced drone swarms. Defense Secretary James Matthews acknowledged Tuesday that current force levels may prove insufficient for protecting American interests while maintaining operational tempo across multiple theaters simultaneously.