Trump Says US ‘Obliterated’ Iranian Military Targets On Kharg Island As Tehran Threatens Retaliation In UAE
Donald Trump said US forces had “obliterated” Iranian military targets on the strategically vital Kharg Island, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran and raising fears of wider disruption across the Middle East.
The US president said the strikes targeted military installations on the island — which handles the majority of Iran’s oil exports — but stopped short of destroying the energy infrastructure itself.
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote on social media.
He said the US had deliberately avoided striking oil facilities but warned the decision could change if Iran interferes with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.
“For reasons of decency, I have chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump said. “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships… I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
US hits more than 90 targets
The United States Central Command said US forces carried out a large-scale precision strike late Friday, hitting more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island.
According to the military, the operation destroyed naval mine storage sites, missile bunkers and other military installations while preserving the island’s oil export facilities.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported at least 15 explosions on the island, with thick smoke rising above the port.
Kharg Island is widely considered one of Iran’s most strategically important energy hubs and a crucial node in its oil export network. According to Reuters, the island serves as the primary terminal for Iranian crude shipments to global markets.
Iran warns of retaliation
Iran quickly signalled it would respond.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said US-linked facilities in the United Arab Emirates — including ports, docks and military bases — could become legitimate targets following the strikes.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media and reported by Reuters, the Guards urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas near US military facilities to avoid potential civilian casualties.
The warning raised concerns that the conflict could spill further into the Gulf region.
Drone incident disrupts oil hub
The tensions are already affecting regional energy infrastructure.
Some oil loading operations were suspended in Fujairah, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs, after debris from an intercepted drone triggered a fire near the port, according to Bloomberg News.
Civil defence crews contained the blaze and no injuries were reported.
Earlier this week, the state energy giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company shut its Ruwais Refinery following a drone strike that caused a fire inside the complex, further disrupting regional energy operations.
Security fears spread beyond the region
The escalating tensions are also triggering security concerns in Europe.
An explosion early Saturday damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam, in what Mayor Femke Halsema described as a deliberate attack on the Jewish community.
The blast charred part of the building but caused no injuries.
According to Reuters, authorities have increased security at Jewish institutions across the Netherlands, while officials in neighbouring Belgium are investigating a fire at a synagogue in Liège earlier this week.
Conflict entering a dangerous phase
The strikes on Kharg Island mark one of the most significant US attacks on Iranian territory since tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran escalated in recent weeks.
Trump said the operation had crippled Iran’s military capability on the island and warned Tehran against escalating further.
“Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East and completely obliterating Israel,” he said. “Just like Iran itself, those plans are now dead.”
Analysts say any escalation that threatens shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could have major implications for global oil markets and regional security, according to reporting by Associated Press.
