The United States launched what it said were military strikes on an Iranian island critical to the country’s economy and oil exports Friday night, an attack that analysts warned raises the stakes as the US-Israel war entered its third week.
Here are more of today’s headlines:
Kharg Island: US President Donald Trump said the US bombed “every military target” on the island, and threatened to attack its oil infrastructure if Iran continues blocking ships from the Strait of Hormuz. The island is a critical oil export terminal that handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. Iran said any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will lead to retaliatory strikes, though state media reported that no oil infrastructure was damaged.
Strait of Hormuz: Trump said Friday he believes US Navy escorts for tankers through the critical waterway will happen “soon.” Separately, a senior Iranian official told CNN that Tehran is considering allowing some vessels to pass through the strait, provided the cargo is traded in Chinese yuan.
Fuel crisis: Global oil prices settled at their highest level on Friday since July 2022 as anxiety about the effective closure of the strait continued across global markets. Countries are planning to dip into oil reserves as they grapple with the crisis.
Marines heading to region: The Pentagon is deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East, a rapid response unit that typically comprises around 2,500 Marines and sailors, officials told CNN. It’s not yet clear what the MEU will be used for or where exactly it will be deployed.
More strikes: Israel says it continued to strike Iran Friday night as the death toll from the war continues to rise. Falling debris from Iranian weapons caused blazes in two suburbs of Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said Friday. Israeli strikes killed nine people from the same family in Lebanon’s south, including four children.
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 JD Vance said Khamenei is “hurt” but “we don’t know exactly how bad.”
Read more about the conflict here as it enters its 15th day.