US Strikes Iran’s Kharg Island, Sends More Marines to Region

The United States carried out airstrikes on military targets on Iran’s key oil island, Kharg Island, while sending additional troops to the Middle East as tensions continue to rise in the ongoing regional conflict.

US President Donald Trump said American forces “obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island, an island in the Persian Gulf that hosts Iran’s main oil export terminal. The facility handles most of Iran’s oil shipments to global markets, making it a strategically important location.

Trump said the US targeted military installations but did not strike Iran’s oil infrastructure. However, he warned that the United States could attack Iran’s oil facilities if Tehran continues to interfere with ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes.

Nearly 20 percent of global oil trade moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively disrupted traffic in the area during the conflict by launching missile and drone attacks.

US sends additional Marines to the Middle East

Amid the escalating tensions, a US official said about 2,500 additional Marines are being deployed to the region. The deployment includes elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA‑7).

Marine Expeditionary Units are trained for multiple missions including amphibious landings, protecting embassies, evacuating civilians, and providing humanitarian assistance. Officials said the deployment does not necessarily mean a ground invasion is planned.

The USS Tripoli and its Marines are currently traveling from the Pacific region toward the Middle East.

Earlier this week, the US Navy already had a strong presence in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN‑72) and several destroyers operating in the Arabian Sea.

Iran warns of retaliation

Iranian leaders warned that attacks on strategic islands could trigger stronger retaliation. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said strikes on Iran’s southern maritime territories could lead Tehran to “abandon all restraint.”

Iran’s joint military command also warned that it would target oil and energy facilities across the region that are linked to American companies or interests if Iran’s oil infrastructure is attacked.

Iranian state-linked media reported that the US strikes caused several explosions and targeted facilities including an air defense site, a naval base, an airport control tower and a helicopter hangar belonging to an offshore oil company. However, officials said the island’s oil infrastructure was not damaged.

Missile strike hits US Embassy area in Baghdad

At the same time, a missile struck a helipad inside the compound of the United States Embassy Baghdad in Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials.

The large diplomatic complex has frequently been targeted by rockets and drones launched by Iran-backed militias in recent years. The US embassy recently renewed its highest-level security warning for Iraq due to the increased threat environment.

Explosion during rally in Tehran

Meanwhile, a large explosion shook Ferdowsi Square in Tehran during a state-organized rally supporting Palestinians. Thousands had gathered for the annual Quds Day demonstration.

There were no immediate reports of casualties. Israeli authorities had earlier issued a warning in Persian urging people to leave the area before the blast, though internet access in Iran has been heavily restricted.

Intensifying conflict across the region

The conflict has also spread beyond Iran. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against Iranian targets and allied groups in recent days.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said more than 15,000 enemy targets have been struck in Iran since the start of the war, averaging over 1,000 strikes per day.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is worsening as Israeli strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah continue. Nearly 800 people have been killed and about 850,000 displaced in the fighting.

The situation remains tense as both sides continue military operations, raising concerns about further escalation in the Middle East and possible disruptions to global oil supplies.