Trump Weighs Kharg Island Operation as U.S. Expands Air and Maritime Campaign to Clear Strait of Hormuz
The Trump administration is actively weighing a risky operation to seize or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island—after recent massive airstrikes described by officials as both warning shots and preparatory shaping—with multiple Marine units steaming toward the Gulf and a notional plan calling for roughly a month of additional strikes before any ground action. At the same time U.S. and allied forces have escalated air and maritime operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—using low‑flying attack jets, A‑10s repurposed against small boats, Apache helicopters shooting down drones and heavy bombs against missile sites—while six Western allies issued a cautious joint statement offering preparatory planning support but no ships, and Sri Lanka declined a U.S. request to basing armed aircraft.
📌 Key Facts
- The U.S. and allied forces have stepped up an air and maritime campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, including low‑flying attack jets striking Iranian naval vessels, A‑10 Warthogs repurposed to hunt and kill IRGC fast‑attack craft, and Apache helicopters (U.S. and regional allies) shooting down or targeting Iranian one‑way attack drones.
- CENTCOM disclosed the use of heavy ordnance in the campaign, including several 5,000‑pound penetrating bombs on underground missile silos near the strait, as part of broader efforts to degrade Iran’s anti‑shipping capabilities.
- Pentagon officials describe the operation as a multistage plan to reduce threats from armed boats, mines and cruise missiles so U.S. warships can eventually transit the strait and escort commercial vessels.
- The Trump administration is actively considering a risky operation to seize or blockade Kharg Island: officials describe a notional plan of roughly a month of additional strikes to weaken defenses followed by a seizure to gain leverage; last week’s massive airstrikes on Kharg were described as both a warning shot and preparatory shaping that officials say destroyed most defenses while leaving oil infrastructure intact—no final decision has been made.
- U.S. force movements reflect the contingency planning: three Marine units are en route to the region, roughly 2,200 Marines embarked on three warships were pulled off an Indo‑Pacific patrol and are steaming toward the Persian Gulf, and the White House and Pentagon are considering sending additional troops.
- Some U.S. and allied officials and veterans warn seizing Kharg would expose U.S. forces to high risk without guaranteeing Iranian concessions; alternative near‑term options being weighed include continued strikes followed by escorted transits through the strait.
- On March 19 six U.S. Western allies issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s 'de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz' and attacks on commercial vessels and infrastructure, saying they are 'ready to contribute to appropriate efforts' and begin 'preparatory planning' to reopen the waterway; the push for the statement was driven by the U.K. and NATO figures, with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Netherlands’ leadership persuading French President Emmanuel Macron to drop opposition.
- Japan joined the statement at the last minute and the U.K. has already sent officers to CENTCOM in Tampa to begin coalition planning, but France, Germany, Italy and Japan had previously ruled out sending warships during the war and it remains unclear whether the declaration will change those positions.
- Separately, the U.S. quietly sought Sri Lanka’s permission to land and park two arms‑loaded military aircraft shortly before beginning airstrikes on Iran; Sri Lanka declined, also rejected an Iranian request to dock three warships, and is hosting survivors from an Iranian warship the U.S. torpedoed off its coast.
📊 Relevant Data
Kharg Island handles approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, making it a critical hub for the country's oil industry and government revenue.
Kharg Island, struck by US, is key hub for Iran oil exports — Reuters
In the US Marine Corps, as of 2022, White individuals comprised 68.6% of the workforce, Black individuals 15.2%, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity accounted for a significant portion, with Black representation exceeding their 13% share of the US population.
U. S. Marines | Data USA — Data USA
Black service members in the US military are more likely to be seriously injured than White counterparts, with Black individuals comprising 21.4% of active-duty Army soldiers as of 2024, compared to 13% of the US population, partly due to lower rates of becoming officers.
Military data reveals dangerous reality for black service members — CNN
Oil price spikes disproportionately increase energy burdens for African American households, with factors like average building age and homeownership rates contributing to this overburden, where energy burden is higher in majority African American census tracts.
Energy burden: Exploring the intersection of race, income, and environmental factors — Newswise
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Gen. Dan Caine publicly confirmed that low‑flying A‑10 Warthog aircraft are now being used to 'hunt and kill' IRGC fast‑attack craft in the Strait of Hormuz, a repurposing of the platform from close air support to ship‑killing roles.
- Regional allies, not named in the piece, are using Apache helicopter gunships to target Iranian one‑way attack drones threatening Gulf states and energy infrastructure.
- CENTCOM disclosed that several 5,000‑pound penetrating bombs were dropped earlier in the week on underground missile silos near the strait as part of efforts to degrade Iran’s anti‑shipping capabilities.
- Roughly 2,200 Marines embarked on three U.S. warships have been pulled off an Indo‑Pacific patrol and are now steaming toward the Persian Gulf, where options include helping clear the strait or participating in a possible seizure of Kharg Island.
- Four sources tell Axios the Trump administration is actively considering occupying or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- A source familiar with White House thinking says the notional plan is roughly a month of additional strikes to weaken Iranian forces, then seize the island and use it as leverage in negotiations.
- Three different Marine units are already en route to the region, and the White House and Pentagon are considering sending more troops.
- A senior administration official says Trump is willing to take Kharg Island or launch a coastal invasion if needed, though no decision has been made.
- Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery warns that seizing Kharg could expose U.S. troops to high risk without guaranteeing Iranian concessions and suggests escorts through the strait after about two more weeks of strikes are more likely.
- The piece confirms last Friday’s massive airstrikes on dozens of targets on Kharg were both a warning shot and preparatory shaping for a possible ground operation, with officials saying they have destroyed most defenses but left oil pipes intact.
- The U.S. quietly sought Sri Lanka’s permission to land and park two arms‑loaded military aircraft on its territory two days before beginning airstrikes on Iran.
- Sri Lanka declined the request while it was also considering and ultimately rejecting an Iranian request to dock three warships, emphasizing its neutral posture.
- Sri Lanka is now hosting survivors from an Iranian warship the U.S. torpedoed off its coast days after the war began, plus sailors from another Iranian vessel.
- U.S. and allied forces have begun using low‑flying attack jets over the Strait of Hormuz sea lanes to strike Iranian naval vessels.
- Apache helicopters are actively shooting down Iranian drones as part of the same operation.
- Pentagon officials describe this as a multistage plan to reduce threats from Iranian armed boats, mines and cruise missiles that have halted traffic through the strait since early March, with a goal of eventually sending U.S. warships through and escorting commercial vessels.
- Six U.S. Western allies released a joint statement on March 19 expressing support for a potential coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz but stopped short of committing naval vessels or other resources.
- The U.K. and NATO Secretary General Marc Rutte orchestrated the push for the statement, with Rutte and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer persuading French President Emmanuel Macron to drop his opposition to a political declaration while deferring decisions on practical steps.
- Japan joined the statement at the last minute ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s White House meeting with President Trump, and the U.K. has already sent officers to CENTCOM in Tampa to begin coalition planning.
- The joint statement condemns Iran’s ‘de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz’ and Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and infrastructure, and says the allies are ‘ready to contribute to appropriate efforts’ and start ‘preparatory planning.’
- France, Germany, Italy and Japan have all previously ruled out sending warships during the war, and it remains unclear whether signing the statement will change those positions.