President Donald Trump used the destruction of every military installation on Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday to send what he described as a message to the entire world about American military power, calling the operation one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East. He also called Iranian leaders “deranged scumbags” in a social media post and declared their deaths a personal honor, while promising dramatically intensified strikes in the coming days. The message from Washington was one of utter military dominance.
Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, was completely cleared of its military infrastructure by US Central Command in the late-day operation. Trump made clear that the decision to spare the island’s oil facilities was a conditional one, warning that he would immediately reconsider if Iran continued to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies, and Iran’s ongoing attacks on shipping there have already severely disrupted energy markets worldwide. European governments, including reportedly France, have opened diplomatic back-channels with Tehran seeking to negotiate safe passage for their commercial vessels.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that combined US and Israeli forces have struck over 15,000 enemy targets since the war began. Israel reported over 200 individual strikes in the most recent 24 hours. Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei was described by Hegseth as wounded, likely disfigured, and hiding underground, having failed to appear in any video or audio communication. His Thursday written statement calling for unity was characterized by US officials as the communication of a desperate and incapacitated leader.
The conflict continued to spread violence across the Middle East. Lebanon has counted over 600 deaths and 800,000 displaced, with eight more killed in Sidon Friday. Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, injuring about 60. Saudi Arabia intercepted close to 50 Iranian drones. Qatar ordered Doha evacuations before a missile interception. Two died in Oman in drone crashes. Dubai’s financial district sustained damage. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched new coordinated strikes on Israel with Hezbollah as part of al-Quds Day. Iran has reported over 1,300 deaths.
Tehran residents described a city of unceasing explosions, power failures, rubble, and desperate people trapped by fuel shortages. A retired professor begged the world to intervene. A shopkeeper counted six explosions in one hour. The United States has lost 13 service members, including six in a tanker aircraft crash in Iraq. France lost a soldier in Iraq to a pro-Iranian militia drone. With Trump promising even harder strikes and Iran showing no sign of capitulation, the war that began with the Israeli killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared certain to intensify further before any resolution could be found.