Fresh from announcing that American forces had obliterated every military target on Iran’s critical Kharg Island oil terminal, Donald Trump called for even more intense strikes on Iran in the coming days on Friday, all while labeling the country’s leaders “deranged scumbags” in a social media statement. The escalating rhetoric matched an escalating military campaign, with both US and Israeli forces conducting back-to-back waves of strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Trump made clear that he saw no diplomatic off-ramp from the current trajectory.
Kharg Island is the engine of Iran’s oil economy, responsible for the bulk of the country’s petroleum exports. Trump announced late Friday that US Central Command had conducted one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle Eastern history there, wiping out every military installation. He then issued a stark warning that the island’s oil infrastructure would face immediate destruction if Iran dared to interfere with free passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
For the people of Tehran, the war has already become an unbearable daily reality. Residents described ongoing power cuts, a shortage of petrol, constant explosions, and the ever-present danger of stepping outside. One shopkeeper said she had taped newspapers over her windows and counted six blasts within a single hour. A retired professor described pleading with the world to intervene, saying she could not leave the city and had sick relatives at home who could not be moved.
Across the region, the scale of violence expanded further on Friday. Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, injuring close to 60. Saudi Arabia intercepted almost 50 Iranian drones. Qatar issued evacuation orders in Doha before missile interceptions were confirmed. In Lebanon, at least eight were killed in a strike on Sidon, and Israeli forces struck the Zrarieh Bridge, claiming it was used by Hezbollah fighters. More than 600 people have died in Lebanon since the latest fighting began.
The American military toll has also risen, with six service members dying in a tanker aircraft crash in Iraq and the overall American death count standing at 13, with eight others severely injured. A French soldier was additionally killed in Iraq by a drone strike from a pro-Iranian militia group. Despite these losses, Washington showed no signs of pulling back from the campaign, with Hegseth vowing that Iran’s leadership was running out of places to hide.
Trump Calls on US Forces to Hit Iran Even Harder After Kharg Island Declared ‘Obliterated’
