President Donald Trump said the United States carried out air strikes on military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, as war in the Middle East enters third week.
In a post on social media on Friday night, Trump said U.S. forces had “totally obliterated every military target” on the island but deliberately avoided striking oil infrastructure.
The island, located about 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, serves as the export terminal for about 90% of Iran’s oil shipments, making it one of the country’s most strategic energy facilities.
Trump warned that the United States could target oil infrastructure on the island if Iran continues to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
“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,” Trump said.
The waterway carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, making any disruption a major risk to global markets.
The conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel has spread across the Middle East, with fighting reported in several countries.
After nearly two weeks of war, about 2,000 people have been killed, most of them in Iran, though casualties have also been reported in Lebanon and other parts of the Gulf region. Millions have been displaced from their homes.
Israeli warplanes have carried out air strikes on the outskirts of Beirut, while Israel has warned of further attacks on infrastructure linked to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia.
U.S. officials said Washington is deploying additional forces to the region, including the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) and its Marine expeditionary unit.
Around 2,500 additional Marines and supporting naval personnel are expected to be sent to the Middle East as the United States strengthens its military presence.
Meanwhile, Iranian forces have continued launching missiles and drones toward Israel, with reports of drones entering the airspace of Kuwait, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman.
The latest developments underline growing fears that the conflict could widen into a broader regional war.
