U.S. strikes military sites on Iran’s Kharg Island as Middle East war escalates

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States has carried out airstrikes on military targets on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, intensifying hostilities in the region as the war involving Iran continues to spread across the Middle East.

Donald Trump said U.S. forces struck military installations on the island on Friday, describing the operation as having “obliterated” its targets. Kharg Island is home to Iran’s primary oil export terminal and plays a crucial role in the country’s energy industry.

In a social media post, Trump said the strikes deliberately avoided Iran’s oil facilities for now but warned that the country’s petroleum infrastructure could become a target if Iran disrupts shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil.

The escalation came as Iran has effectively closed the strait amid ongoing missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and neighboring Gulf states.

Meanwhile, an American defense official said about 2,500 additional Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being deployed to the region as fighting approaches its second week. Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to the Middle East.

Marine Expeditionary Units are designed for rapid-response missions, including embassy security, civilian evacuations, and humanitarian assistance. The official stressed that the deployment does not necessarily signal an imminent ground invasion.

Satellite imagery shows the USS Tripoli sailing alone near Taiwan earlier this week, indicating it could take more than a week to reach waters near Iran.

Earlier in the week, the U.S. Navy already had a major presence in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and eight destroyers operating in the Arabian Sea.

Explosion rocks Tehran rally

Inside Iran, tensions escalated further after a large explosion struck the Ferdowsi Square in Tehran during a massive rally marking Quds Day. Thousands had gathered at the state-organized event, which typically features chants against Israel and the United States.

Israel had warned shortly before the blast that the area could be targeted. However, Iran’s near-total internet shutdown meant many residents likely did not see the warning.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Iranian judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei was present at the rally and continued an interview with state television despite the explosion. Surrounded by bodyguards, he declared that Iran “under this rain of missiles will never withdraw.”

Israeli strikes expand across Iran

The Israeli military said its forces struck more than 200 targets across Iran within 24 hours, including missile launchers, air defense systems, and weapons production sites.

In Washington, Pete Hegseth said more than 15,000 enemy targets have been hit since the conflict began, averaging over 1,000 strikes per day.

The growing confrontation has also intensified the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah have killed at least 773 people, including more than 100 children and 18 paramedics, since fighting erupted 10 days ago. Nearly 850,000 residents have been displaced.

An Israeli strike on a health care center in the village of Burj Qalaouiyah killed 12 medical workers early Saturday, while another strike in the coastal city of Sidon earlier killed at least eight people.

Regional attacks and U.S. losses

Iran has continued to launch attacks across the Gulf region. In Oman, two people were killed after drones crashed in the Sohar region, according to the Oman News Agency.

A U.S. official said the Navy destroyer USS Oscar Austin intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile over Turkey on Friday. It marked the third such interception over the NATO member country in the past two weeks.

The U.S. military also confirmed that all six crew members aboard a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker were killed when the aircraft crashed in Iraq. The incident raised the U.S. death toll in the conflict to at least 13 service members.

Mike DeWine said three of the victims were members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing.

U.S. Central Command said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and involved two aircraft, one of which landed safely.

Uncertain end to the conflict

In an interview with Fox News, Trump suggested the war could end once he personally determines the situation has stabilized.

“When I feel it in my bones,” he said.

The former president also expressed skepticism that Iranians could overthrow the country’s ruling system without weapons, citing the powerful paramilitary Basij, which has historically suppressed anti-government protests.

Despite diplomatic pressure and mounting casualties, the war shows little sign of easing, with military operations continuing across Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries while global markets remain on edge over the potential disruption of oil supplies.