The United States has launched one of its most significant military operations against Iran in years, carrying out precision airstrikes on dozens of military installations on Kharg Island, a strategic oil export hub in the Persian Gulf.
The operation, conducted by United States Central Command, targeted more than 90 Iranian military sites across the island. Officials said the strikes were aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to threaten maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf while deliberately avoiding oil export infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the attack shortly after it was carried out, describing the operation as one of the most powerful bombing raids in the region in recent years. The strike marks a sharp escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East and totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said in a statement.
Precision Strikes
According to U.S. officials, the coordinated operation targeted a network of Iranian military facilities across Kharg Island, including missile launch sites, naval mine storage depots, air defense batteries, helicopter hangars and command centers believed to be linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Pentagon officials said several installations used for storing naval mines were among the primary targets. Such mines are considered one of Iran’s most effective tools for disrupting shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and potentially blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Runway infrastructure and aviation facilities on the island were also damaged during the strikes, limiting Iran’s ability to launch aircraft or helicopters from the location.
Iran’s Oil Lifeline
Kharg Island is widely regarded as the backbone of Iran’s oil export system. Located about 30 kilometers off Iran’s mainland coast, the island hosts major oil terminals and storage facilities that handle nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports.
Large tankers regularly dock at the island’s loading terminals to transport crude oil to markets across Asia and other regions. Because of its central role in Iran’s economy, the island has long been considered one of the country’s most strategically important energy assets.
Despite the scale of the strikes, U.S. forces did not target oil storage tanks or export terminals on the island.
Trump said the decision was made to avoid disruption to global energy markets.
“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated the world has ever known,” Trump said. “But for reasons of decency, I have chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island.”
Trump’s Warning
While the United States avoided striking energy infrastructure during the operation, Trump warned that the decision could change if Iran interferes with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he said.
The statement came amid growing tensions in the Persian Gulf following a series of attacks and threats targeting maritime traffic in the region.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions
The crisis surrounding Kharg Island is closely linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes.
Nearly one fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supply passes through the strait each day, making it one of the most critical energy corridors in the world.
U.S. officials have said the Navy is preparing to escort commercial vessels through the strait as part of efforts to secure shipping routes and protect tanker traffic in the area.
Iran Responds
Iran reacted sharply to the strikes and warned that further attacks could trigger retaliation. Iranian officials said the country reserves the right to respond if its territory continues to be targeted.
State media in Tehran reported that oil export operations on Kharg Island were continuing despite the airstrikes. Iranian leaders also warned that any attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure could lead to retaliation against oil facilities belonging to U.S. allies in the Gulf.
Iran’s military command also issued a warning directed at the United Arab Emirates following the U.S. strikes. A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the United States had launched missiles toward Iranian territory from positions in the UAE and warned that Tehran considers it a legitimate right to target the launch points of those missiles, including ports, docks and locations where American forces are present in some UAE cities.
The statement also urged residents in nearby areas to move away from ports, docks and locations hosting U.S. forces in order to avoid potential harm.
U.S. Reinforces the Region
At the same time, Washington is strengthening its military presence in the Middle East.
Defense officials said additional U.S. forces, including Marines and naval assets, are being deployed to the region as tensions with Iran increase.
The deployments are expected to support maritime security operations and protect U.S. personnel and facilities in the region.
Regional Conflict Widens
The strike on Kharg Island comes amid a broader regional conflict involving multiple actors.
Recent weeks have seen Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting regional rivals, while Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes against Iranian and allied positions across parts of the Middle East.
Militia groups aligned with Tehran have also launched attacks against U.S. interests in Iraq.
Oil Markets Watch Developments
Although oil export infrastructure on Kharg Island was not targeted, the strikes have drawn close attention from global energy markets.
Kharg Island remains Iran’s primary crude export terminal and plays a central role in the country’s oil shipments.
Any disruption to operations at the facility could affect crude supply flows through the Persian Gulf, where a large share of the world’s oil exports transit each day.
Officials and energy companies are monitoring developments in the region as tensions between the United States and Iran continue.
