The president showcased satellite images of the strike on Truth Social, declaring them proof of America’s unmatched military might
By our correspondent
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that the United States had carried out one of the most powerful airstrikes in Middle Eastern history, targeting Iran’s strategic Kharg Island.
According to Trump, the operation was conducted under his direct orders by the US Central Command and successfully destroyed all military targets on the island. The president released satellite footage of the strike on his social media platform, Truth Social, insisting that it demonstrated the unparalleled strength of American weaponry.
Trump said the US possessed the most advanced and powerful arms in the world, capable of overwhelming any adversary. He added that oil infrastructure on the island had been deliberately spared for ethical reasons, but warned that any interference with the free and safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz could prompt a reassessment of that restraint.
In his statement, Trump portrayed the US military as the deadliest, most effective fighting force in modern history. He asserted that Iran lacked the capability to defend against any American strike and claimed that the country would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons or pose a threat to the United States, the Middle East, or the wider world.
Trump also accused Iran of plotting to dominate the Middle East and destroy Israel, though he insisted that those ambitions had now been thwarted. The president framed the strike as a necessary demonstration of US resolve, intended to deter future threats and reassure allies in the region of America’s military commitment.
Observers noted that the Kharg Island operation came amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, with Iran and the US already engaged in a series of retaliatory strikes and countermeasures. While Trump’s statement emphasized military capability and strategic deterrence, analysts warned that the rhetoric could further inflame an already volatile situation, raising the risk of wider conflict.
Despite the scale of the strike, Trump sought to portray the operation as measured, highlighting the decision to spare civilian oil infrastructure while targeting military installations. The messaging underscored a focus on both tactical efficiency and strategic signaling, aimed at demonstrating American dominance without triggering a full-scale regional escalation.
The announcement added another chapter to the intensifying US-Iran confrontation, illustrating the high stakes of the ongoing conflict and the profound geopolitical tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
