U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday morning released video that showed American forces executing what it described as a “large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island” in Iran.
“The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites,” CENTCOM said in a social media post.
“U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure,” CENTCOM added.
According to CENTCOM, as well as President Donald Trump, the operation deliberately avoided oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s primary oil export hub in the Persian Gulf.
The strike was launched on Friday amid the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which began in late February and has expanded across the Middle East with missile and drone attacks targeting military bases and shipping routes.
Kharg Island is a critical economic lifeline for Iran, handling roughly 90% of the country’s crude oil exports, making it both strategically and economically significant.
Officials said the operation was designed to weaken Iran’s military presence on the island while minimizing broader economic disruption in global oil markets.
Trump took to Truth Social on Friday night to describe it as one of the “most powerful” airstrikes in the region’s history.
“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,” Trump wrote.
Trump said CENTCOM executed the strike at his direction and that all military targets on the island were destroyed.
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND – MARCH 13: U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from the media before boarding Air Force One on March 13, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump is traveling to Florida to spend the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)
“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the world has ever known,” Trump wrote. “But for reasons of decency, I have chosen not 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 Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
The president also reiterated his long-standing position that Iran will not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, calling on Iranian military forces to stand down.
“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World!” Trump added. “Iran’s military, and all others involved with this terrorist regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”
In two follow up posts, he said Iran “is totally defeated and wants a deal — but not a deal that I would accept!”
He added that while Iran planned to take over the entire Middle East and “completely obliterating” Israel, “those plans are dead.”
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