Trump Says Military Targets on Iran’s Kharg Island Oil Hub “Totally Obliterated”
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out a major bombing raid targeting military installations on Kharg Island, Iran’s most important oil export hub, claiming the operation “totally obliterated” every military target on the island.
The strike marks one of the most significant escalations in the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
In a message posted on social media, Trump said the operation was ordered directly by him and executed by United States Central Command. He described the mission as one of the most powerful bombing raids carried out in the region in recent years.
“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.
However, the U.S. president emphasized that the island’s oil infrastructure was deliberately spared during the attack, at least for now.
Kharg Island plays a critical role in Iran’s economy because it serves as the country’s main oil export terminal. Located in the Persian Gulf, the small island handles the majority of Iran’s crude oil shipments to global markets.
Energy analysts estimate that roughly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports pass through the facilities located on the island, making it one of the most strategically important energy sites in the region.
Despite the heavy airstrikes on military installations, reports indicate that the oil loading terminals, pipelines, and storage facilities were left intact.
Trump warned that this restraint could change if Iran attempts to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital maritime corridor through which a large share of the world’s oil supply travels.
“If Iran or anyone else interferes with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, we will reconsider that decision,” Trump said.
The warning comes after weeks of heightened tensions in the Gulf, where Iranian actions have reportedly disrupted tanker traffic and threatened international shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most strategically important waterways in the world, with about one-fifth of global oil supply typically passing through the narrow channel.
Any major disruption to traffic through the strait can have immediate consequences for global energy markets, causing oil prices to rise sharply.
Following the strike on Kharg Island, analysts warned that the conflict could further destabilize global oil supplies if Iran retaliates or if future attacks target energy infrastructure.
Iranian officials have already warned that attacks on the country’s energy facilities would cross a “red line” and could trigger retaliatory strikes against oil infrastructure belonging to U.S. allies in the region.
Military experts say the strike on Kharg Island may have been designed to weaken Iran’s ability to launch attacks from the strategically important location while also sending a strong warning to Tehran.
The island has historically been heavily defended and closely guarded by Iranian forces because of its economic importance.
Despite the scale of the attack, the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Satellite imagery and intelligence assessments are expected to provide more information in the coming days about how severely Iran’s military capabilities on the island were affected.
Meanwhile, the conflict between Iran and its adversaries continues to spread across the region.
Missile and drone strikes have been reported in several countries in the Middle East, raising fears that the war could expand into a broader regional confrontation.
Global markets are also closely monitoring the situation, as any threat to oil production or export routes in the Persian Gulf could have far-reaching economic consequences.
For now, the strike on Kharg Island represents one of the most dramatic developments in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the growing risk that the war could escalate even further in the weeks ahead.
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