US Strikes Iran: Kharg Island Hit as Tensions Soar

WASHINGTON – The United States conducted bombing raids on Iranian military targets in the Persian Gulf and threatened further strikes against oil infrastructure if Iran continues to disrupt energy flows, escalating a two-week conflict that has destabilized the region. President Trump stated the US “executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East,” targeting sites on Kharg Island.

Escalation of Conflict

Trump, in a social media post, said he chose “NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” but warned Iran he would reconsider if they interfered with ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. He also told reporters the US would continue its campaign as long as necessary, while asserting “we’re way ahead of schedule.” The US Navy is preparing to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz “very soon.”

The 14th day of the war has seen the largest attacks yet against Iran, with the US and Israel hitting around 15,000 targets since the conflict began, according to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Iranian Response and Regional Impact

Iranian officials have remained defiant. Pictures posted on social media showed Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and several government ministers participating in rallies. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said the Islamic Republic would seek to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed and warned of opening other fronts in the war if attacks continue.

The US is deploying the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit from Japan to the Middle East, a voyage expected to take at least a week. The unit has up to 2,400 troops and carries F-35 fighters, V-22 Ospreys, and helicopters.

Brent crude settled above $100 a barrel for the second consecutive session, reaching the highest level in over three years, while US crude futures settled near the highest since July 2022. Millions of barrels of oil remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at a standstill. Asian countries are experiencing shortages of cooking gas and road fuel, and gasoline prices in the US are at their highest levels in about two years.

Casualties and Mediation Efforts

The death toll for the US military operation has risen to 13 after all six crew members aboard a US refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 were killed. The crash was not attributed to enemy or friendly fire. Almost 2,600 people have died in the war, most of them in Iran, with nearly 700 deaths in Lebanon due to clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. A dozen Israeli civilians and two soldiers have also been killed.

Pro-government rallies were held across Iran on March 13 to mark Quds Day. An explosion occurred near a march in Tehran, and Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported a woman was killed in a US-Israeli attack.

Strikes on three commercial ships in the Arabian Gulf over the past two days have highlighted the risk of expanding disruptions to maritime transport. A French military staffer was killed and at least six soldiers wounded in a drone strike in Iraq’s Erbil region. Turkey’s defence ministry reported neutralizing an Iranian ballistic missile that entered its airspace, the third such interception since March 4. In Oman, two people were killed after drones crashed in the Sohar region, leading to the suspension of operations at the Port of Sohar. Dubai and Saudi Arabia have also reported missile threats and intercepted drones.

The US Central Command has assigned investigators to look into an attack on an all-girls elementary school on the first day of strikes on Iran that killed about 180 people.

Several back channels have opened between Tehran and US allies regarding reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but prospects for success appear dim. CNN reported Iran is considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers through, provided cargo is traded in Chinese yuan.

Germany, Canada, and Norway have criticised the US decision to temporarily loosen sanctions against Russia in an attempt to curb surging oil prices. The US has issued a second authorisation for buyers to take Russian oil cargoes already at sea, expanding a waiver given to India. Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Turkey are leading mediation efforts, with support from European countries and France. Qatar has withdrawn from talks after repeated attacks.