Image: from Mario Nawfal X @MarioNawfal
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
KHARG ISLAND/WASHINGTON — In a pre-dawn offensive that has plunged Iran’s primary oil hub into darkness, U.S. and Israeli warplanes conducted a massive wave of “restrikes” on Kharg Island Tuesday morning. The operation, which reportedly targeted over 50 specific sites, marks a significant escalation as the White House prepares to act on a midnight deadline that could see Iran’s entire civilian infrastructure decimated.
U.S. officials confirmed to The Jerusalem Post and Walla that the mission specifically focused on neutralizing newly reconstituted air defenses, radar stations, and ammunition bunkers. The strikes have reportedly caused a total power outage across the island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
The U.S. has struck military targets on Kharg Island, a site Iran sees as a “trophy.” The whole region is on tenterhooks, with just hours until Trump’s self-imposed deadline. pic.twitter.com/lljZkNmFI6
— Becky Anderson (@BeckyCNN) April 7, 2026
“Obliterated” No More: The Need for Restrikes
The Tuesday morning strikes have raised pointed questions about the effectiveness of previous U.S. operations. In mid-March, President Donald Trump claimed that U.S. forces had “totally obliterated every military target” on the island—often referred to as the “Crown Jewel” of the Iranian economy.
However, a senior U.S. official described today’s mission as a necessary “cleanup” of what had been hit previously.
“These were restrikes on what we hit in the first weeks of the war,” the official told Walla. “We are ensuring that any attempt to rebuild anti-air capabilities or rearm the island’s garrison is met with immediate, overwhelming force.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, while 50 military targets were engaged, the island’s vast oil loading piers and storage tanks were intentionally spared—for now. This “restraint” appears to be the last thread of leverage the Trump administration is holding over Tehran before the 8:00 PM EDT deadline expires.
The Marine Option: Seizure vs. Sabotage
The heavy focus on Kharg Island’s air defenses fuels speculation that the Pentagon is clearing a path for a ground operation. Reports have circulated for weeks that the administration is considering a plan for U.S. Marines to seize and occupy the island to secure a “quick opening” of the Strait of Hormuz.
Military experts remain divided on the gambit:
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The Proponent View: Seizing the island would give Washington a “permanent spigot” to control Iranian oil revenue and a forward base for monitoring the Gulf.
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The Critic View: Analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) warn that an occupation could become a “trap,” placing thousands of U.S. troops within easy reach of Iranian mainland artillery and suicide drones.
Regional Fallout: Türkiye and the Global Market
As explosions rocked the island on Tuesday afternoon local time, the shockwaves were felt in global capitals. Türkiye, a major importer of Gulf energy, is watching the escalation with growing alarm. Ankara has repeatedly warned that a prolonged conflict at Kharg Island could trigger a permanent energy crisis across Eurasia.
In Tehran, the Mehr News Agency reported that while the damage to military bunkers was “significant,” the spirit of the local defenders remains unbroken. With the “one-night” destruction of the Iranian mainland now less than six hours away, the restrikes on Kharg Island may be the final drumbeat before a much larger storm.