As United States forces aboard the USS Tripoli arrive in the Middle East, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Can Kasapoglu analyzes Washington’s options for striking Iran’s coercive island network in the Gulf,

With thousands of US ground troops reportedly on the way to the Middle East, speculation is mounting that they may be assigned to take Iran’s Kharg Island, a key fuel hub in the northern Persian Gulf which handles 90% of Tehran’s oil exports.

Kharg Island: Iran has significantly reinforced its military presence on Kharg Island, deploying anti-armour mines, shoulder-fired missiles, and additional personnel to deter a potential ground operation by the United States.

Iran has threatened to open a new front in the war and disrupt the all-important Bab al-Mandeb Strait trade route if the US invades Kharg Island. After effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and choking 20% of the world’s oil supply shipments,

The war with Iran is into its fifth week, and despite much of its military power being destroyed by U.S. and Israeli strikes, Tehran has yet to give in or

Iran’s Kharg Island is home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil. The Persian Gulf island has emerged as a focus of the month-old war launched by the United States and Israel.

A US effort to seize Kharg Island, the Islamic Republic’s critical economic hub, would be a high-risk operation that would likely entail significant costs for little gain. Kharg is much more likely to become a liability than an asset,

President Donald Trump threatens U.S. strikes on Iran’s oil hubs if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed. Get the latest on Kharg Island and what it means.

An intense search mission resulted in the safe rescue of a missing crew member of a downed F-15E jet, President Donald Trump said early Sunday.