Dubai: US President Donald Trump said American forces carried out powerful strikes on military targets at Kharg Island on Friday, claiming the operations “obliterated” key installations. The island hosts Iran’s primary oil export terminal, making it one of the country’s most strategically important locations.
The attack comes amid rising tensions in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iranian parliamentary leaders had earlier warned that any strike on the island could trigger a strong retaliatory response from Tehran.
Meanwhile, a US official confirmed that about 2,500 additional Marines along with an amphibious assault ship are being deployed to the Middle East, nearly two weeks into the escalating confrontation with the Islamic Republic.
Iran has continued launching missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states. At the same time, Tehran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz a critical route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes while US and Israeli warplanes continue strikes on Iranian military sites.
In a fresh warning early Saturday, Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said the country would retaliate against oil and energy infrastructure linked to American interests if Iran’s own facilities were attacked. He stated that Tehran could target companies in the region that either have American stakes or cooperate with the United States.
Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from the United States Embassy in Baghdad after a strike hit its compound in the Iraqi capital. The embassy had already issued a Level-4 security warning, citing the risk of attacks from Iran aligned militia groups. The large diplomatic complex has previously been targeted by rockets and drones linked to such groups.
The security situation has further worsened after a drone strike in northern Iraq killed a French soldier and injured several others serving as part of an international coalition. The latest developments indicate that the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation, raising fears of broader instability across the Gulf region.