President Donald Trump announced via social media that the United States Central Command executed what he described as ‘one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East,’ targeting military installations on Kharg Island, a key terminal for Iran’s oil exports. The president stated that all military targets on the island were ‘totally obliterated,’ though he refrained from attacking the island’s oil infrastructure. ‘For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,’ he said. ‘However, 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.’

Strategic Targeting and Iranian Response

Kharg Island is a strategic location in the Persian Gulf, serving as the primary terminal for Iran’s oil exports. The island’s significance has made it a focal point in regional tensions, with Iranian officials warning of severe consequences if it comes under attack. Earlier this week, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament warned that Tehran would ‘abandon all restraint’ if the islands come under attack, adding that Mr. Trump will be responsible for ‘the blood of American soldiers.’

Fars news agency, a semi-official Iranian news outlet, reported at least 15 explosions on Kharg Island, with thick smoke rising from the area. The agency stated that the strikes targeted an air defense facility, a naval base, the airport control tower, and an offshore oil company’s helicopter hangar. Notably, no oil infrastructure was damaged, aligning with the president’s claim that such facilities were spared.

In response to the strikes, Iran’s joint military command reiterated its threat to attack US-linked oil and energy facilities in the region if Iran’s oil infrastructure is hit. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned that Iran would target ‘all oil, economic, and energy infrastructures belonging to oil companies across the region that have American shares or co-operate with America.’

US Military Deployment and Regional Tensions

The US has been increasing its military presence in the Middle East in response to escalating tensions with Iran. An American official confirmed that 2,500 additional Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being deployed to the region nearly two weeks into the conflict with Iran. Elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Tripoli have been ordered to the Middle East.

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with the Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships, are based in Japan and have been in the Pacific Ocean for several days. The Tripoli was spotted by commercial satellites sailing alone near Taiwan, more than a week away from the waters off Iran. This suggests that the deployment does not necessarily indicate an imminent ground operation, though the Marines are trained for amphibious landings, embassy security, and disaster relief.

The US Navy currently has 12 ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and eight destroyers, operating in the Arabian Sea. If the USS Tripoli joins this flotilla, it would be the second-largest ship in the region behind the Lincoln. While the exact number of US service members in the Middle East is unclear, Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the largest US bases in the region, typically houses around 8,000 American troops.

Regional Attacks and Escalation

Iran has continued its missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf states, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world’s traded oil passes. The US and Israel have responded with air strikes targeting military and other facilities across Iran.

On Saturday, an air strike hit a house in Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least one person and wounding two others. The Iraqi military condemned the attack as ‘a blatant violation of all humanitarian values and a disregard for international conventions.’ A missile later struck a helipad inside the US Embassy in Baghdad, according to security officials.

Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported that it downed a drone in the al-Jawf region, near the Jordan border, and shot down seven drones heading toward the kingdom’s eastern region, which includes major oil installations. Dubai’s Media Office said debris from an intercepted missile struck the facade of a building in the city center, but the incident was contained with no injuries reported.

Qatar’s defense ministry confirmed it had intercepted a missile attack, and authorities were evacuating ‘a number’ of areas as a precaution, though specific locations were not disclosed. Emergency alerts were sent to residents’ phones.

In Lebanon, an Israeli strike hit a health care center in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah, killing 12 doctors, paramedics, and nurses. This was the second attack on the health sector within hours, following an earlier strike on a paramedic center in the southern village of Souaneh that killed two paramedics and wounded five others.

The escalating conflict between Iran and the US, combined with attacks on civilian infrastructure in the region, has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation. With Donald Trump’s recent statements about military actions on Kharg Island, the situation remains volatile and could have far-reaching implications for global oil markets and regional stability.