US Launches Massive Strike on Iran’s Most Strategic Island as War Enters Third Week
The United States military has unleashed a devastating barrage on Iran’s Kharg Island, destroying over 90 military targets in what Pentagon officials are calling one of the largest single-day operations of Operation Epic Fury. The strikes mark a dramatic escalation as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its third week with no ceasefire in sight.
President Donald Trump declared that Kharg Island has been “totally demolished,” warning Tehran that “we may hit it a few more times just for fun.” The president simultaneously called on global allies — including the UK, France, Japan, China, and South Korea — to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed to Western shipping.
What Was Hit on Kharg Island
Kharg Island sits roughly 15 miles off Iran’s southern coast and is the country’s most critical energy chokepoint. Approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports flow through its loading terminals, making it arguably the single most valuable piece of real estate in Tehran’s economic arsenal.
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the March 13 precision strike targeted exclusively military infrastructure on the island. The confirmed targets include:
- Naval mine storage facilities — eliminating Iran’s capacity to mine the Persian Gulf
- Missile storage bunkers — destroying stockpiles that threatened Gulf shipping lanes
- Air defense systems — neutralizing the island’s protective umbrella
- Kharg Airport — rendering the military runway inoperable
- Radar installations — blinding Iran’s surveillance capabilities in the southern Gulf
The Pentagon emphasized that oil infrastructure was deliberately avoided — a calculated decision that leaves Iran’s economic lifeline technically intact while sending an unmistakable message: Washington can shut down Tehran’s oil exports whenever it chooses.
Trump’s Coalition Push: ‘Send Your Warships’
In a move that underscores the global stakes of this conflict, President Trump on Saturday directly called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain, and other nations impacted by the choking off of oil supplies to join efforts to reopen shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The 21-mile-wide passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoint. Roughly one-fifth of the global oil supply passes through it daily. Iran has effectively shut it down for US-allied vessels, while reportedly allowing ships from China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Turkey to pass — a selective blockade that is reshaping global energy alliances in real time.
The response from allies has been cautious. The UK, France, and Japan have said they are “considering their options.” No major ally has committed warships yet, though the UK’s Royal Navy already has vessels in the region.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright acknowledged that energy prices could remain elevated but offered a bold prediction: the war could end “within the next few weeks.”
Iran’s Military Capacity in Freefall
The numbers tell a stark story. According to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s March 13 briefing:
- Iranian missile volume is down 90% since the start of the war
- One-way attack drone volume is down 95%
- Over 15,000 Iranian targets have been struck as of March 13
- 60 Iranian naval vessels and 30 minelayers have been damaged or destroyed
- More than 50,000 US military personnel are supporting the operation
- Iran’s entire ballistic missile production capacity has been “functionally destroyed or damaged”
But the war is not without cost. The US suffered a significant blow when two KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft collided midair over western Iraq on March 12, killing six airmen. Additionally, five more Air Force refueling planes were struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia by an Iranian missile attack — raising serious questions about the sustainability of the air campaign’s tempo.
With an estimated 20 KC-135 tankers in the theater and seven now damaged or destroyed in just 24 hours, some defense analysts warn the Air Tasking Order may need to be significantly downsized.
Iran Strikes Back: Gulf States Under Siege
Iran is down but far from out. Despite the degradation of its offensive capabilities, Tehran continues to lash out across the region:
- Kuwait: A drone attack hit the Ali Al Salem airbase hosting Italian and US forces on March 15, destroying an Italian remotely piloted aircraft
- Iraq: Five rockets struck Baghdad International Airport, wounding five people. The US Embassy compound and Camp Victory have been repeatedly targeted by Iranian-backed Shia militias
- Saudi Arabia: The US Embassy was hit by suspected Iranian drones earlier in the conflict
- UAE: Iran has warned three major ports to evacuate, signaling potential strikes on civilian infrastructure
- Lebanon: Israeli strikes have killed 850 people including over 100 children since March 2, according to Lebanon’s health ministry
Iran has also deployed encrypted, frequency-hopping explosive drone boats — disguised as fishing vessels — in the Strait of Hormuz, creating a lethal gauntlet for any commercial shipping attempting to transit the waterway.
The Nuclear Question Looms
Perhaps the most alarming dimension of the conflict remains Iran’s nuclear status. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has declared Iran in material breach of its obligations but has been unable to conduct in-field verification of current enrichment levels or stockpile size since the war began.
Trump told NBC News that Tehran’s commitment to “completely abandoning any nuclear weapons ambitions” would be part of any agreement to end the conflict. But with the IAEA locked out, the international community is effectively flying blind on the most dangerous variable in this war.
Will the War End in Weeks?
Energy Secretary Wright’s prediction that the conflict could wrap up “within the next few weeks” reflects the administration’s public optimism. But the reality on the ground tells a more complicated story.
Iran’s strategy appears to be one of attrition — absorbing strikes while maintaining just enough offensive capacity to threaten Gulf states and global energy markets. Tehran is betting that rising gas prices, allied reluctance, and growing global protests will erode American public will before its own military collapses.
An Israeli military spokesperson complicated the timeline further, stating that the IDF is “identifying new targets every day” and projecting at least three more weeks of active operations.
Trump, for his part, appeared to deflate hopes of a near-term deal when he told NBC that “the terms aren’t good enough yet” for negotiations with Iran.
One thing is certain: as Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, the war’s outcome will be determined not just by bombs and missiles, but by which side can outlast the other — and whether the rest of the world decides to pick a side.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as the situation evolves.