WAR IS ECOCIDE
Trump Bombs Iran’s Kharg Island and Threatens to Hit Oil Exports
U.S. President Donald Trump said American forces had launched a major bombing raid on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, targeting military facilities on the key Persian Gulf outpost while warning Tehran that its vital oil infrastructure could be destroyed if shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
In a social media statement, Trump said that at his direction the United States Central Command carried out “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East,” claiming U.S. forces had “totally obliterated every military target” on Kharg Island.
Trump said the United States had deliberately avoided striking the island’s oil infrastructure, which handles the vast majority of Iran’s crude exports.
“For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump wrote, warning that the decision could change if Iran interferes with ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most critical oil shipping chokepoint.
Speaking to reporters earlier Friday, Trump said the U.S. military campaign would continue “as long as necessary,” while claiming the operation was “way ahead of schedule.” He also suggested the U.S. Navy would soon begin escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating attacks on shipping.
Kharg Island sits about 25 kilometers off Iran’s southwestern coast and serves as the backbone of the country’s oil export system. The terminal accounts for roughly 90% of Iranian crude shipments, loading millions of barrels per day onto tankers bound largely for Asian markets.
Because so much of Iran’s export capacity is concentrated in one location, the island represents a critical economic lifeline. Analysts say destroying the terminal could cripple Iran’s economy for months or even years—but could also send global oil prices sharply higher.
So far, U.S. and Israeli strikes in the conflict have largely targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Oil facilities elsewhere in Iran have been hit, but Kharg’s massive storage tanks, jetties, and pipelines had remained untouched until the latest strike.
By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com
Trump Orders Central Command to “Obliterate” All Military Targets on Kharg Island and Threatens to “Wipe Oil” Infrastructure
In a major escalation of the war, Trump wrote on Truth Social last night that he ordered the US Central Command to conduct a bombing raid that “obliterated every MILITARY target on Iran’s crown jewel.” He said that “For reasons of decency, I have NOT chosen to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the island, however, should Iran, or anyone else do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Straights of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider.” He described the US attack as one of the “most powerful in the history of the Middle East” and urged the Iranian military to give up “and save what’s left of the country, which isn’t much.” Finally, just after midnight, Trump wrote “ Watch what these deranged scumbags today.”
Kharg is a five-mile-long coral island off Iran’s south-western coast and lies 27 miles from the mainland. It’s been called the “beating heart of Iran’s modern energy empire” and also the “forbidden island” because of the security and military restrictions.” The pipeline terminal receives crude from major off shore oil fields in Dorood, Forozan and Aoozaer and Iran exports 90% of its oil from Kharg. Eight or nine supertankers can be loaded simultaneously at the giant facility. Kharg provides some 13 percent of China’s oil imports. The oil facility was built in the 1960s by the American company Amoco and taken over by Iran during the 1979 revolution. Iran has vowed that an attack on the oil infrastructure would “end all restraints on its reprisals.”
Bombing Kharg feels like an act of absolute folly and sheer desperation. Seizing Kharg, a highly dangerous operation in itself, would still not allow the US to produce oil and would in the words of one analyst “set markets into a tailspin.” Some experts predict prices could leap to $150 a barrel if Kharg is hit and cause long term pain around the world. Damage to the facility could take years to repair. (The Guardian, 11 Mar 2026)
The US is sending the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the region with its complement of 2,500 Marines. Scott Ritter says that any attempt to land Marines will end in disaster. And trying to enter the Persian Gulf would be a suicide venture. Satellite tracking are following the ship and when it gets within range, it will be annihilated by an Iranian missile.
(More, later today)
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