One of the most impactful bombing raids ever witnessed in the history of the Middle East…
President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a major bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, claiming American forces “totally obliterated every military target” on the strategically important island.
Trump announced the strike Friday, saying U.S. Central Command conducted what he described as “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East.”
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids … and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added that Iran “has no ability to defend anything that we want to attack — there is nothing they can do about it.”
The strike marks a sharp escalation in the widening conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Why Kharg Island matters
Kharg Island sits in the Persian Gulf about 16 miles off Iran’s coast. Though small, it plays an outsized role in Iran’s economy and military finances.
Roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through the island’s terminals. That makes it one of the most important energy hubs in the Middle East and a critical pressure point in the global oil market.
Because of its importance, even limited disruptions at Kharg could ripple through energy markets and strain Iran’s already pressured economy.
U.S. officials said Friday’s operation focused on military installations located on the island rather than the oil export infrastructure itself.
Oil infrastructure spared — for now
Trump said the United States deliberately avoided striking Kharg Island’s oil facilities.
According to the president, that restraint was shown out of “decency.” But he warned the calculus could change if Iran interferes with commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries a large share of the world’s oil.
“If they continue to disrupt maritime traffic,” Trump signaled, additional strikes — including against energy infrastructure — could follow.
Such a move would likely send shockwaves through global energy markets.
Part of a broader escalation
The strike comes amid a rapidly expanding regional confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In recent days the conflict has produced:
- Missile and drone exchanges across multiple fronts
- Rising casualties in Iran and Lebanon
- Growing threats to oil shipping routes and commercial vessels
The United States has also moved additional Marines and naval forces into the region as tensions climb.
What happens next
Military analysts say targeting Kharg Island represents a major escalation. The island sits at the center of Iran’s oil export system, which helps fund both the Iranian government and its military operations.
For now, Iran’s oil terminals remain intact. But analysts warn that any future strikes on energy infrastructure could send global oil prices sharply higher and deepen the conflict across the Middle East.
The White House has not yet released a full damage assessment, and it remains unclear how extensively Iran’s military facilities on the island were damaged.
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