Pakistani intelligence services assess that US President Donald Trump may ignore warnings from his own military and launch a limited ground offensive to seize Iranian coastal regions, according to evaluations dated July 27.
The assessment comes as the warring parties have paused attacks over the past three nights. The conflict escalated in early July over the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces fired on shipping. Pakistan and Qatar are now shuttling proposals between the belligerents, though Iran's leadership seeks a permanent ceasefire and rejects a limited pause.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed the deployment of additional military forces to the Middle East. Meanwhile, Houthi rebels claimed drone attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure on July 27, and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones fired by Iran-aligned militias.