US military strength in the Middle East surpassed 50,000 personnel after Donald Trump authorized new deployments to counter Iranian threats.The Pentagon is evaluating potential ground operations to seize Kharg Island and restore navigation through the blocked Strait of Hormuz.Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed to punish any American ground presence as Tehran rejected a 15-point diplomatic proposal.While the administration seeks 200 billion dollars in funding, analysts suggest current troop levels remain insufficient for a full-scale invasion.