In a major strategic victory for Operation Epic Fury, U.S. and Israeli forces have successfully collapsed a vast network of underground tunnels beneath Kharg Island — Iran’s most critical oil export hub — trapping hundreds of sea mines deep underground and severely crippling Tehran’s ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz.
Satellite imagery and intelligence reports confirm that precision bunker-buster strikes early Friday morning caused mᴀssive cave-ins across the tunnel system, which Iranian forces had used to store and deploy advanced naval mines. Hundreds of these sea mines are now reported stuck in the rubble, rendering them unusable and eliminating a major threat to international shipping lanes.
Pentagon sources described the operation as “highly successful,” noting that the tunnels were a key component of Iran’s asymmetric naval strategy. By trapping the mines underground, the U.S. and Israel have significantly reduced Iran’s capacity to mine the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint through which 20% of global oil flows.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s regime has reacted with fury, calling the strike “a declaration of total economic war.” Iranian officials admitted significant damage to underground facilities but claimed the island’s surface oil infrastructure remains partially operational. However, analysts say the collapse of the tunnel network represents a serious long-term blow to Iran’s naval deterrent.
This development comes as the broader conflict continues to escalate. The USS Gerald R. Ford remains crippled by recurring fires, while the USS Abraham Lincoln has faced repeated Iranian missile threats. The United States has already spent more than $11 billion in munitions in just two weeks, with critical radar systems destroyed and interceptor stockpiles running low. Israel continues to endure punishing Iranian missile barrages.
By destroying the hidden tunnel infrastructure on Kharg Island, the U.S. and Israel have delivered a powerful message: Iran’s most dangerous naval weapons are now buried beneath their own soil. The once-formidable threat of a mined Strait of Hormuz has been dramatically diminished.
As flames still rise from parts of Kharg Island and global energy markets react nervously, one question dominates: Has this precision strike finally broken Iran’s naval backbone — or will Mojtaba Khamenei respond with even more desperate and unpredictable measures?
The war at sea is far from over, but America and Israel have just scored one of their biggest tactical wins yet.
