The US has attacked military sites on Iran’s Kharg Island, home to a vast oil facility | US-Israel war over Iran news

United States President Donald Trump has said the country’s military has bombed military installations on Iran’s Kharg Island, warning that critical oil facilities in the region could be next if Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran, in turn, threatened on Saturday to reduce US-linked oil facilities to “ashes” if a US-Israeli war on Iran were to target oil formations on the island, now in its third week as a global oil price crisis is already in the making.

Kharg Island exports more than 90 percent of Iran’s oil. Crude oil prices have risen more than 40 percent since the war began.

Trump said on Friday that US forces had “totally obliterated” all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, describing it in a social media post as “one of the most powerful bombings in the history of the Middle East”. He has not given any evidence for it.

The US president said he had decided not to “delete” oil infrastructure on the Iranian island for now.

“However, if Iran, or anyone else, does anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he said.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported, citing sources, that more than 15 explosions were heard on Kharg Island during the US attack.

The attacks targeted air defences, a naval base and airport facilities, but no damage to oil infrastructure, sources said. Iran’s Fars news agency reported thick smoke rising from the island.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Wal, reporting from Tehran, said a potential retaliatory strike by Iran on Gulf oil facilities would be a “disaster scenario” for the region and “the entire oil and gas industry”.

“The Iranians are keeping this as a card to use,” he said. “They are talking about restraint, and that restraint is likely to end if they attack Iranian oil facilities, as the Americans are hinting and threatening.”

A US ground operation in the works?

Meanwhile, 2,500 more Marines and an amphibious assault ship are being sent to the Middle East, a US official told the AP news agency.

Elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli have been ordered to the area, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans.

Marine expeditionary units are capable of conducting amphibious landings, but they also specialize in enhancing security at embassies, evacuating civilians, and disaster relief.

“What we have to do with this is that the US is slowly increasing its military posture in terms of prosecuting the war and does not intend to wrap things up anytime soon,” Al Jazeera’s Rosalind Jordan reported from Washington.

A deployment does not imply that a ground operation is imminent or will take place.

Trump has dismissed the prospect of a deal

After the attack on Kharg Island, Trump said Iran would be “wise to give up their weapons and save what’s left of their country.” Trump wrote on his Truth social platform.

“The fake news media hates to report how well the United States military has done against Iran, which is completely defeated and wants a deal – but not a deal I agree to!” Separately, he posted, there is no evidence that Tehran is seeking any kind of deal.

At least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in US-Israeli strikes on Iran since February 28, according to Iran’s health ministry.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, said US-Israeli airstrikes hit targets across the country, including the capital Karaj, Isfahan and Tabriz. This is a sign that “we are not close to de-escalation,” he said.

“Iranian officials are talking about retaliatory attacks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is talking about using its sophisticated weapons, including Haider missiles, to target Israeli territories and US bases in the region,” he said.