03/15/2026
A major U.S. airstrike has targeted Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, the heart of the country’s oil export network in the Persian Gulf. Located about 30 km off the Iranian mainland, the island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it one of the most critical economic and military locations in the region.
According to U.S. Central Command, the strike involved long-range strategic bombers supported by additional aircraft and precision weapons. The operation focused on military infrastructure, including naval mine storage facilities, missile bunkers, and multiple fortified sites used by Iranian forces. More than 90 military targets were reportedly hit during the coordinated bombing raid.
The mission was carefully planned to avoid destroying the island’s oil export terminals, even though they form the backbone of Iran’s energy revenue. Officials stated that the goal was to weaken Iran’s military capabilities on the island while preventing a massive shock to global oil markets.
Kharg Island sits near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime chokepoints in the world where a large share of global oil shipments pass each day. Any military action in this area carries significant geopolitical and economic consequences, raising tensions across the Gulf region.
The strike marks one of the most significant attacks on Iranian strategic infrastructure during the current conflict and highlights the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
