US Airstrike on Khark Island: Is Trump Preparing to Seize This Key Iranian Island?
The accompanying image is a satellite image of Khark Island, Iran, taken on February 22. It is home to Iran's main oil export terminal. Image.
According to a report from The Washington Post today, US President Donald Trump announced on the "Truth Social" social platform that the US military has conducted an airstrike on Khark Island in the Persian Gulf, which houses Iran's core oil terminal.
The media mentioned that Iran had previously stated that an attack on this facility would constitute an escalation of conflict.
Trump said that the US military "completely destroyed all military targets on the crown jewel of Iran." However, The Washington Post stated that it currently cannot confirm this airstrike or make an independent assessment of the damage caused.
Khark Island is located in the Persian Gulf, about 15 nautical miles from the Iranian mainland, and is the core hub of Iran's oil economy. Approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports pass through this island. Media pointed out that a missile attack on this island could completely strangle Iran's already fragile economy, even leading to the Iranian government being "unable to afford paying military salaries."
The Washington Post previously reported that the US military might conduct a ground invasion of Khark Island. Michael Rubin, a research assistant at the American Enterprise Institute, supports seizing the island, stating that this airstrike "creates the conditions for seizing the island," and it could be implemented as long as Trump issues an order.
Rubin said that the defense of Khark Island relies on a network of military infrastructure on other nearby islands and the Iranian mainland. The expert believes that in preparation for an offensive, Trump may approve strikes on Iran's so-called "invisible piers" — these outposts spread across multiple islands are important positions for the Iranian navy to launch high-speed speedboats and pose a threat to ships in the Persian Gulf.
The media emphasized that US officials have refused to comment on whether the US military is preparing for a ground operation on Khark Island.
The report states: "This operation would expose the US military to the range of Iranian drones and other missiles... According to US officials on Friday, a Marine Expeditionary Force will depart from Okinawa, Japan, and deploy to US naval vessels in the Middle East. This force is equipped with landing craft, helicopters, F-35 fighters, and a marine battalion of about 800 personnel. This special task force, known as the Marine Expeditionary Unit, consists of approximately 2,200 marines, in addition to more than 2,000 sailors stationed on the 'Tripoli' amphibious assault ship and two other warships."
It is currently unclear whether this troop deployment is targeted at Khark Island, but the media noted that the Marines have received specialized training in amphibious landings, island capture, and missile strikes against enemy forces at sea.
The report added that even just bombing Khark Island could affect international oil prices — since the start of the "Epic Fury" military operation, international oil prices have already risen sharply.
According to Eurasia Daily News, a spokesperson for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps "Hajjam-e Anbiya" joint air defense command stated that Iran considers striking missile launch sites in several cities in the UAE as its legitimate right.
This statement was made following a series of US airstrikes, including the attack on Iran's Khark Island, a key oil export center in the Persian Gulf.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7617131057602626054/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.