US launches missile attack on Kharg Island, huge blasts reported.

Washington/Tehran (The Uttam Hindu): Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) released a video on Saturday claiming that the US military carried out precise and extensive strikes on Iran's strategically important Kharg Island.

Videos shared on social media by Centcom showed scenes of the nighttime strikes, with plumes of smoke billowing from the explosions and black smoke billowing into the sky. The command said the operation was aimed at weakening Iran's military infrastructure.

According to the US military, naval mine storage sites, missile storage bunkers, and several other military installations were targeted during the operation. Centcom claimed that more than 90 Iranian military installations on the island were successfully targeted, while critical oil-related infrastructure was deliberately left unprotected.

Meanwhile, US ally Israel also said on Saturday that it had struck Iran's major space research center and a factory involved in the production of air defense systems in Tehran. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the center was involved in the development of military satellites used for surveillance, intelligence gathering, and targeting in the region.

Kharg Island's strategic importance:

According to experts, Kharg Island, located in the northern Persian Gulf, is Iran's most important oil export hub. Nearly 90 percent of the country's crude oil exports are routed through the island. It houses massive oil storage tanks and a large loading terminal for supertankers.

Defense analysts believe the increased military activity in the region could further escalate tensions in West Asia. Iran has yet to officially respond to the attacks.