Iran’s Kharg Island targeted by US military with multiple strikes: Report

Trump said whole civilization ‘to die tonight’, connection with strikes not stated yet

US President Donald J Trump also released a statement following the reported strikes Tuesday, saying “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” However, there is no stated connection of the statement with the attacks on Kharg island.  Trump also said who knows there would be a ‘complete and total’ regime change in  Iran, adding “We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Earlier, ‘military targets’ were hit on Friday 13th March by the US. President Trump had then said military targets on Kharg Island had been “totally obliterated” in “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East”, adding he had chosen not to target oil infrastructure on the island then.

Why is Kharg Island Iran’s most critical oil export hub?

Kharg Island is Iran’s most critical oil export hub, handling the bulk of the country’s crude shipments. Located in the Persian Gulf around 50 km off the mainland, the small coral island serves as the endpoint for pipelines connected to some of Iran’s largest oil and gas fields. Experts say that nearly all of Iran’s oil exports pass through this facility, making it one of the most sensitive economic targets in the country.

The island also houses major storage and shipping infrastructure, including large oil terminals and petrochemical facilities. Its strategic importance is also linked to its deep-water access, which allows very large crude carriers to dock: something not possible along much of Iran’s shallow coastline.

Any disruption at Kharg could significantly impact global oil supplies, with analysts warning that a direct hit on export infrastructure could sharply push up crude prices.

So far, major oil facilities on the island have largely been spared in the conflict, reportedly to avoid destabilising global energy markets. However, even limited strikes near such a key hub are likely to raise concerns over supply disruptions and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil trade.