US strikes Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in Hormuz
US forces carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, marking the first known American attacks on Iran since late July, when President Donald Trump paused a renewed military campaign, and ending weeks of relative calm in direct fighting. US Central Command said IRGC forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guard swiftly retaliated with ballistic missiles aimed at US-operated airbases in Jordan.
Key Takeaways
- US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, citing preparations to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
- The IRGC said the attack killed and wounded several people; Tasnim reported two dead and two injured and said drones carried out the strike.
- Iran launched ballistic missiles at King Hussein and al-Azraq airbases in Jordan; Jordan said it intercepted eight missiles at dawn Monday.
- The exchange comes as the US-Iran war crosses its six-month mark, with Hormuz still central to global energy security.
- Washington announced a fresh sanctions campaign on 24 August, adding economic pressure alongside military action.
What Did US Forces Strike on Larak Island?
A US official confirmed that American forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, located just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas and directly on the Strait of Hormuz. CBS News quoted Centcom spokesman Cdr Tim Hawkins saying IRGC forces were preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the waterway.
Iran's Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, reported the attack was carried out by drones. The agency said two people were killed and two others injured. The IRGC condemned the strike as a strategic and fatal mistake by the Trump regime and vowed response and punishment.
Why Did Washington Target Launchers Near the Strait of Hormuz?
The strike targets a flashpoint that has shaped the six-month conflict. Before the war began, roughly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas traveled through Hormuz. Iran has effectively closed the strait to marine traffic and reportedly forces tankers to pass by Larak Island for inspection, charging vessels as much as $2 million to cross.
President Donald Trump said last week that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz had been detonated or removed, and warned that any ship deploying new mines would be destroyed. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi called Trump's claim propaganda deception. The US said Sunday's action aimed to prevent further mine deployments as hostilities had been subsiding after late-July strikes.
Precision strikes involving drones and remote targeting are reshaping how powers contest strategic waterways — a pattern our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage continues to track as military and autonomous systems converge.
How Did Iran Retaliate After the Larak Island Bombing?
Hours after the US strike, Iranian state media carried an IRGC statement saying ballistic missiles had hit the US bases of King Hussein and al-Azraq in Jordan. The guard said it caused heavy damage and targeted technical infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and enemy fighter jet positions, according to an AFP translation.
Jordan's armed forces said air defense systems intercepted eight missiles that breached the kingdom's airspace at dawn on Monday. A US source told Reuters that all incoming missiles on US forces in Jordan had been intercepted with no significant impact so far.
What Does This Escalation Mean for the Six-Month Iran War?
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February; Iran responded by attacking Israel, US bases, and Gulf allies while blockading Hormuz. Diplomatic efforts led by mediators including Pakistan and Qatar have failed to end the fighting, despite an April ceasefire and a June memorandum of understanding toward a peace deal.
Washington has since declared economic warfare against Tehran, announcing expanded sanctions on 24 August. The Larak exchange signals that military friction can reignite even during periods of reduced activity — with global shipping and energy markets watching every move in one of the world's most critical chokepoints. For full details, see the BBC's reporting on the strike and retaliation.