President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out a major military strike against Iranian targets on Kharg Island, describing the operation as one of the most significant bombing campaigns ever conducted in the region. The statement came as the war between Iran and U.S.-aligned forces entered its third week and tensions across the Middle East continued to escalate.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 13, 2026
In the message, Trump said the operation had been carried out under his direct orders. “Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” he wrote.
U.S. Central Command confirmed the strike, describing it as a large-scale precision operation carried out overnight. According to the command, American forces targeted military infrastructure on the island, including naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and other strategic installations. In a statement, the command said U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets while preserving the island’s oil infrastructure.
Last night, U.S. forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island, Iran. The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites. U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg… pic.twitter.com/2X1glD4Flt
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 14, 2026
Kharg Island holds strategic significance as Iran’s primary oil export hub, making it a critical economic and logistical asset for the country. U.S. officials indicated the operation focused specifically on military facilities rather than energy infrastructure, even as the conflict has disrupted global oil markets and intensified fighting across the region.
The strike occurred amid a broader escalation in hostilities. An Iran-backed militia group in Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for firing on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, marking the second reported attack on the diplomatic compound in recent weeks. U.S. officials did not immediately comment on the claim.
More than 2,000 people have been killed since the war began, according to international estimates, with the majority of casualties reported in Iran and Lebanon. Millions have been displaced across the Middle East as fighting continues, while Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes. Oil prices have risen sharply since the conflict began, reflecting mounting concerns about disruptions to global energy markets.