U.S. Planners Weigh Cuba Air Assault With 101st Airborne as Iran War Drains Forces
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 15
U.S. Planners Weigh Cuba Air Assault With 101st Airborne as Iran War Drains Forces
2 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 15
Summary
Late last month, the Pentagon reviewed early-stage options for action against Cuba, including an Army-led air assault by the 101st Airborne involving thousands of troops, U.S. officials told CBS News.
Those briefings stop short of an approved operation, and officials said any shift toward Cuba is unlikely now because aircraft, intelligence assets and other capabilities are already tied up in renewed fighting with Iran.
Marco Rubio has kept diplomacy as the stated preference, but that track has stalled as Washington tightens pressure on GAESA—an $18 billion military-run conglomerate—and other Cuban state entities.
The planning follows months of escalating U.S. pressure on Havana over its ties with Russia, China and Iran, even as the 2026 U.S. threat assessment cast Cuba more as an enabler for rivals than a direct military threat.
As the Iran war drains U.S. arsenals, what military options remain for confronting Cuba's new Russian-made drone fleet?
With diplomacy stalled and sanctions creating a crisis, is indicting Raul Castro a final gambit or a prelude to conflict?
300 Iranian Drones in Cuba: U.S. Security Fears, Regional Instability, and the Path to Confrontation
Overview
Since 2023, Cuba has transformed its military by acquiring over 300 Iranian drones, including advanced Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 models. This marks a major shift in Cuba’s defense posture and has raised serious security concerns for the United States, especially given Cuba’s close proximity—just 90 miles from Florida. The versatile drones, capable of targeting personnel, vehicles, and radar, represent a new and potent threat. Intelligence reports suggest Cuba has discussed using these drones in potential attacks on key U.S. assets, making the situation more urgent and heightening regional tensions.