play Live Sign upShow navigation menuplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upEXPLAINERNews|US-Israel war on IranIran war: What is happening on day 15 of US-Israel attacks?US hits Iran’s Kharg island as it warns oil sites may be next if Tehran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Listen to this article | 8 minsinfoplay videoplay videoVideo Duration 21 minutes 32 seconds play-arrow21:32US-Israel war on Iran intensifies as Trump claims victory, questions grow over conflict’s cost
googleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoThe United States-Israel war on Iran, now in its third week, continues to escalate after US forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, the critical hub through which most of Iran’s crude exports pass.
US President Donald Trump said Washington deliberately spared the island’s oil infrastructure but warned that it could be attacked if Iran interferes with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran, meanwhile, has warned that any attack on its energy facilities would trigger retaliation against regional oil infrastructure and US-aligned assets, raising fears of a wider energy and security crisis across the Gulf.
In the US Major military deployments: To counter ongoing Iranian drone attacks and regional threats, the US is deploying 10,000 interceptor drones to the Middle East, according to US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Furthermore, US media reports suggest the potential deployment of the USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship, alongside 2,500 marines, which was reportedly approved by Hegseth. Aggressive rhetoric and bounties: Highlighting the aggressive US stance, Hegseth stated that the US military will show “no quarter, no mercy for our enemy”, a remark that prompted concerns from Democratic Congressman Eugene Vindman about possible illegal orders. Oil infrastructure spared: While the military facilities were destroyed on Kharg island, Trump said he chose not to strike the island’s oil infrastructure “for reasons of decency”. The island hosts key energy facilities linked to Iran’s oil export system, including storage tanks, loading terminals and pipelines. Ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz: In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that if Iran interferes with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider that decision and target the oil facilities. Strategic leverage: Analysts say the bombing signals that the US can cripple Iran’s ability to attack vessels in the strait while holding back the option of striking oil infrastructure – a move that could significantly disrupt Iran’s crude exports and intensify the global energy shock.
