How the US Marines Could Take Over Kharg Island

Share this link on Facebook

Share this page on X (Twitter)

Share this link on LinkedIn

Share this page on Reddit

Email a link to this page

Seizing Kharg Island from Iran would be a relatively straightforward amphibious military operation. Holding onto it amid constant bombardment from the mainland would be far more challenging.

Kharg Island is Iran’s primary oil export terminal—making it a tempting target for the Trump administration to seize in the ongoing war. On paper, the island offers high economic leverage, making for a clean and decisive objective. In reality, however, a long-term occupation of Kharg could make for a logistical nightmare: territory that can be taken quickly, but will inevitably be far too costly to hold. 

How to Capture Kharg Island

Action against Kharg Island would likely unfold in three phases: isolation and suppression, seizure, and sustainment. The US would have advantage initially, including air superiority, technical superiority, amphibious capability, etc. So the operation is feasible, at least in........

© The National Interest