Iran Sets “Deadly Trap” for US Forces on Kharg Island

Layered Defenses Include Shoulder-Fired MANPADS; Mines Laid Around Shores
Tehran/Washington (March 26, 2026): Iran has significantly fortified Kharg Island — its primary oil export hub in the Persian Gulf — by establishing layered defensive systems in anticipation of a possible US ground operation.
According to multiple sources familiar with US intelligence, Tehran has deployed additional shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) and laid extensive anti-personnel and anti-armour mines along the island’s shorelines and potential landing zones. These measures are aimed at turning the island into a heavily defended “kill zone” or “death trap” for any American amphibious or airborne assault.
Kharg Island handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. The US conducted large-scale precision airstrikes on the island on March 13, destroying over 90 military targets including naval mine storage facilities and missile bunkers, while deliberately sparing the oil infrastructure.
In recent weeks, Iran has reinforced the island with extra troops, repositioned air defense systems, and prepared traps to counter any attempt by US Marines or paratroopers to seize control. The moves come as the Trump administration weighs options to increase pressure on Tehran, including a possible limited ground operation on Kharg or nearby islands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
US military officials have acknowledged the risks, warning that even after earlier strikes, Iranian ballistic missiles, drones, and remaining defenses could still inflict significant casualties. Two Marine Expeditionary Units and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division have been deployed to the region in recent days.
Analysts describe the situation as highly volatile, with any ground assault on Kharg carrying substantial military and strategic risks amid the ongoing Iran-US conflict.