The United States launched what it described as a military offensive on Friday night on an Iranian island critical to the country’s economy and oil exports, which analysts warned raises the stakes as the U.S.-Israel war enters its third week.
Here’s more on today’s headlines:
Kharg Island: US President Donald Trump said the US had bombed “every military target” on the island and threatened to attack the country’s oil infrastructure if Iran continued to block shipping from the Strait of Hormuz. The island is an important oil export terminal, handling approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Iran said attacks on its oil and energy infrastructure would lead to retaliatory attacks, but state media reported no damage to its oil infrastructure.
Strait of Hormuz: President Trump said Friday he believed a U.S. Navy tanker escort through the vital waterway would take place “soon.” Separately, a senior Iranian official told CNN that the Iranian government is considering allowing some ships to transit the strait, provided their cargo is traded in Chinese yuan.
Fuel crisis: Global oil prices settled on Friday at their highest since July 2022 as fears over the effective closure of the Strait continued across global markets. Countries are planning to draw down oil reserves as they deal with the crisis.
Marines headed to the region: The Pentagon is sending Marine Corps Expeditionary Units, a rapid response force typically made up of about 2,500 Marines and sailors, to the Middle East, officials told CNN. It is not yet clear what the MEU will be used for or exactly where it will be deployed.
More attacks: Israel announced it continued its attacks on Iran Friday night as the death toll from the war continues to rise. Israeli officials said on Friday that falling debris from Iranian weapons had caused fires in two locations on the outskirts of Tel Aviv. An Israeli airstrike killed nine members of the same family, including four children, in southern Lebanon.
Where is the supreme leader? The US government is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on key Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. US Vice President J.D. Vance said that Khamenei was “hurt” but “we don’t know exactly how bad.”
Read more about the conflict, which has entered its 15th day.
