The 2025 attacks included Operation Midnight Hammer, in which B-2 stealth bombers used bunker-buster bombs, while Kharg Island strikes hit more than 90 military sites and avoided energy infrastructure.
The report says the campaign showed effective precision attacks on hardened, dispersed targets but rapidly depleted Tomahawk missiles, interceptors and other high-end munitions needed for any longer war.
It argues the Iran conflict offers lessons for a possible China confrontation, including missile defence against drones and ballistic attacks, protecting logistics hubs, and using cyber and electronic warfare alongside alliances.
How is China using the Iran war as a live laboratory to learn how to defeat the U.S. military?
Is America's defense industry prepared for a long war with China after the costly Iran conflict?
When a $4 million missile downs a $20,000 drone, who is winning the economic battle of modern warfare?
April 7, 2026 Kharg Island Strikes: Tactical Success, Strategic Stalemate, and Global Fallout
Overview
In April 2026, the U.S. launched precise military strikes on Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran into reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, while deliberately sparing the island's oil infrastructure to avoid a global energy crisis. Despite degrading some Iranian military capabilities, the strikes triggered Iranian missile and drone retaliations against Gulf states, escalating regional tensions and causing significant disruptions to travel, commerce, and energy markets. Diplomatic efforts stalled amid conflicting demands over the Strait and sanctions, deepening the stalemate. The conflict has fueled global economic instability, domestic political divisions in the U.S., and accelerated a shift toward a more multipolar world with lasting geopolitical realignments.