After several weeks of calm, military tensions between the United States and Iran have returned to the Strait of Hormuz. US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the first known US attack on Iran since late July.
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US Central Command, CENTCOM, described the operation as “limited and precise.” According to CENTCOM, the targets were Iranian forces that were laying mines and posed an immediate threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, said two people were killed in the attack and two others were wounded. Tehran warned that it would respond with “a response and punishment.”
Several hours later, Iranian authorities said they had launched ballistic missiles at the King Hussein and Al-Azraq US bases in Jordan. The Jordanian military announced that it had shot down eight missiles during the early morning hours.
Iranian state media also reported a drone attack on Al-Minhad air base in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi denied the claims but confirmed that a drone had been intercepted.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country does not seek war, but would give “a decisive response to aggressors.”
Larak is located near Bandar Abbas, in the central part of the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy transport. Before the war began, around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed through the strait.
Reports say Iran is requiring tankers to sail near Larak Island to undergo inspections. Tehran is suspected of demanding payments of up to $2 million from some vessels for passage.
Meanwhile, the United States is continuing its naval blockade of Iran. According to CENTCOM, on Saturday alone, US forces disabled three vessels, boarded two others and redirected 82 vessels as part of the operation.
US President Donald Trump had earlier warned that any attempt by Iran to lay new mines in Hormuz would be followed by US strikes. After the strike on Larak, he posted videos on his social media platform showing explosions at Iranian oil infrastructure, highlighting Kharg Island, a major export terminal.
The return of the military confrontation comes as Washington is also increasing economic pressure on Tehran. On August 24, the United States announced a new sanctions package aimed at further isolating Iran and expanding measures against its companies and allies.
With the new attacks in Hormuz and the continuing naval blockade, relations between Washington and Tehran are entering an even more tense phase, while the risk of escalation remains high.
