In brief
On Sunday, US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, marking the first confirmed American strikes on Iran since late July. US Central Command confirmed the launchers were preparing to fire sea‑mining rockets into the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack killed and wounded several, pledging retaliation, while Iranian officials criticized the operation as a strategic mistake. The incident comes amid renewed US pressure, including fresh sanctions and efforts to clear mines from the strait, after a series of escalations that closed the key passage for six months.
US strikes Iranian launchers on Larak Island
US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, the first known American strikes on Iran in weeks since late July.
"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command spokesman Commander Tim Hawkins said. The attack killed and wounded several, and the IRGC vowed a response and punishment.
Geographic Context
Larak Island lies just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas and sits on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has reportedly blocked tanker traffic by forcing vessels to pay a fee to cross the island.
Iranian Reaction
Iranian officials called the attack a "strategic and fatal mistake," and warned that the enemy would face consequences in both economic and military fields.
US Statements
US President Donald Trump had earlier said all mines had been removed from the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's deputy foreign minister dismissed this claim as propaganda.
Broader Escalation
The incident occurs after Washington launched new sanctions and cleared the main shipping lane, amid the ongoing six‑month war that began on 28 February with combined US strikes on Iran.
