US missiles landed on dozens of military targets on Kharg Island, igniting massive explosions that wiped out Iran’s own missile stash, footage shared by the US Central Command shows.
The bombs were dropped in quick succession along the compound in what the agency called a “large-scale precision strike.”
A satellite image of Iran’s Kharg Island.EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images
“Last night, U.S. forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island, Iran. The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites,” the USCC said.
“U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, while preserving the oil infrastructure.”
President Trump announced the strike Friday night, which he called the “most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East.”
The bombing was called a “large-scale precision strike.”X / US Central Command
Trump celebrated the attack, saying US forces “obliterated every military target,” but refrained from wiping out oil infrastructure on the island “for reasons of decency.”
Kharg Island is home to the primary terminal that handles the country’s oil exports.
Marine Expeditionary Units are able to conduct amphibious landings, but they also specialize in bolstering security at embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief. The deployment does not necessarily indicate that a ground operation is imminent or will take place.
Left-leaning members of the NYC Council are considering bizarre new legislation that aims to curb retail theft — by penalizing customers and business owners rather than criminals.
NYC supermarkets and pharmacies would be forced to impose a 15-item limit for customers using self-checkout lines, and have at least one employee assigned to every three of those lines, or face daily fines of at least $100.
“We’ve seen the consequences of removing workers from these spaces: increased retail theft, less oversight, fewer protections for both workers and customers, and generally decreased safety,” said Councilwoman Amanda Farias (D-Bronx) while introducing the legislation Tuesday.
Left-leaning members of the NYC Council are considering bizarre new legislation in a bid to curb retail theft by penalizing customers and business owners instead of criminals.Helayne Seidman for the NY Post
“This bill is about protecting good jobs, supporting workers on the front lines and creating a more secure shopping environment for New Yorkers,” added Farias, contending the 15-item limit is to “maintain safety, accountability, and fairness in the checkout process.”
The legislation’s rollout comes on the heels of the Council’s far-left faction trying to drum up support for a separate bill backed by socialist Mayor Mamdani to increase the city’s hourly minimum wage from $17 to a nationwide-high of $30 — a plan business leaders warn would be a costly disaster for employers and likely cause NYC to lose many jobs.
Farias’ bill is already co-sponsored by four other Dems: Manhattan’s Gale Brewer and Harvey Epstein, Tiffany Cabán of Queens, and Shirley Aldebol of The Bronx.
However, critics such as Councilwoman Joann Ariola said those pushing the bill have their priorities wrong.
“This is typical backwards leftist logic,” the Queens Republican said. “Instead of actually trying to punish criminals, my colleagues are pushing to make life even harder for businesses and consumers.”
“We’ve seen the consequences of removing workers from these spaces: increased retail theft, less oversight, fewer protections for both workers and customers, and generally decreased safety,” said Councilwoman Amanda Farias (D-Bronx) while introducing the legislation Tuesday.Paul Martinka
She also took aim at the separate push to nearly double the city’s minimum wage.
“Demanding that struggling businesses hire even more staff — and at $30 an hour, no less, if some on the Council have their way — is a surefire way to drive business out of NYC and make it even more difficult for New Yorkers to get their medicine and groceries,” she said.
If elected officials really want to help businesses crack down on shoplifters, they should put tougher laws in place to hold criminals accountable and help provide more police presence when needed, said Jason Ferraira, a board member of the National Supermarket Association, which represents more than 700 NYC and East Coast stores.
“I think this is a horrible idea,” said Ferraira, who has self-checkout at two of three Foodtown supermarkets he runs in Queens. “Self-checkout helps us because we don’t have to man as many registers, that’s true, but at the same time, it’s the benefit for the customer. People like options.”
“You don’t prevent shoplifting by making me have a certain ratio of employees,” he added. “People shoplift in a lot of different ways. Some shoplift through self-checkout. Some through the regular cashier checkout. Some people bypass the checkout altogether, and go straight to the floor.”
John Catsimatidis, owner of the Gristedes supermarket chain, said he believes the motivation for the new bill is preventing retail stores from replacing workers with self-checkout lines as the Council “tries to impose” a higher minimum wage.
NYC supermarkets and pharmacies under the legislation would be forced to impose a 15-item limit for customers using self-checkout lines and have at least one employee assigned to every three of those kiosks or face daily fines of at least $100.Helayne Seidman for the NY Post
“They think people are really stupid and don’t realize the real reason they’re doing this,’ said the billionaire, who also owns WABC-AM radio.
Gristedes doesn’t have self-checkout lines and likely never will because they’re easy targets for shoplifters, he added.
Shoppers also think the Dem plan is misguided.
The City Council should be dealing with more important things — like passing laws to combat crime — than trying to dictate how supermarkets should deploy staff or how many items customers can have on a self-checkout line, said Tommy Bayiokos, 60, who regularly shops at Key Food supermarket and CVS pharmacy.
“Government should stop being disruptors of businesses,” said the Brooklyn-based actor.
“If anything, force businesses to hire more security guards that will actually crack down on shoplifting, but it seems like no one is watching the store anymore. And what is the point of inconveniencing people who use the self-service line?”
A pandemic-era surge in shoplifting ravaged stores statewide — including in the city — and lead to $4.4 billion in losses during 2022 alone, spurring mass closures by CVS, Rite Aid and other major retailers.
Shoplifting in the Big Apple and across the state has steadily dropped since Gov. Kathy Hochul took steps in 2024 — including forming a $40 million statewide task force — to tackle the surge that caused big-box stores to start locking up goods.
Shoplifting crime rates in NYC are still well above pre-pandemic levels, rising 47% from February 2020 through June of last year, according to data compiled by Brennan Center For Justice.
“While affirming Iran’s right to respond to this aggression by all available means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls upon our brothers in Iran not to target neighboring countries,” Hamas said in a statement.
Palestinian terror group Hamas issued a rare statement on the war in Iran Saturday, urging Tehran to stop striking neighbors.AFP via Getty Images
This is the first time the Palestinian terror group has publicly commented on the ongoing war in Iran.
An Iranian-backed proxy, Hamas gets its funding both from the Iranian regime and some other Gulf nations at Tehran launched counterstrikes at like Qatar and Turkey — putting the terror group in a tricky position since the conflict erupted.
The group, which has been badly weakened due to its war in Gaza with Israel, has been in contact with Islamic Republic leaders over the issue, a Hamas official told the AFP.
Iran has fired counterstrikes at several Gulf neighbors, including Qatar.AFP via Getty Images
It’s also spoken to officials in other Mideast countries including Qatar, Turkey and Iraq, to urge them to work toward an end to the war, according to the source.
Since the first US and Israeli strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran has responded by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at half a dozen Middle Eastern countries in counterattacks, warning there was “no red line” after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran said Saturday that all countries besides the US and Israel maypass through the Strait of Hormuz, in a desperate attempt at coalition busting less than a day after the US bombed military targets on its oil-critical Kharg Island.
“As a matter of fact, the Strait of Hormuz is open,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
“It is only closed to the tankers and ships belong[ing] to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies. Others are free to pass,” Araghchi told MS NOW.
A top Iranian diplomat said Saturday that all countries other than the US and Israel can have their ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz.REUTERS“As a matter of fact, this strait of Hormuz is open,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.AFP via Getty Images
Araghchi noted that many ships “prefer” not to undertake the journey due to “security concerns,” but insisted, “this has nothing to do with us.”
“And I can say that the Strait is not closed, but it is only closed to American, Israeli, you know, ships and tankers, and not to others.”
Two Indian-flagged tankers carryingliquefied petroleum gascrossed the Strait, Reuters reported Saturday.
“They crossed the Strait of Hormuz safely early this morning and are en route to India,” Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the minister of ports and shipping in New Delhi, said.
Sixteen ships operating in and around the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz have been attacked since the war started Feb. 28 , according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.
Operations at the Lanaz refinery in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil have been suspended until a fire caused by a drone strike on Saturday is extinguished, provincial officials said.
Work will remain suspended until the extent of the damage is assessed, officials at the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Natural Resources told Reuters.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that it was "discussing options" to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, in an apparent response to US President Donald Trump'scallsfor countries, including Britain, to send warships to help protect the waterway.
"As we've said previously, we are currently discussing with our allies and partners a range of options to ensure the security of shipping in the region," a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said.
