US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, a US official confirmed, marking the first known American strike against Iran since late July.
Commander Tim Hawkins of US Central Command said the Iranian forces had been preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the launchers were destroyed and that U.S. forces were careful to avoid collateral damage.
The IRGC responded swiftly, reporting that the attack killed two people and injured two others. Amid the exchange, Hossein Mohebbi, an IRGC spokesperson, called the strike a "strategic and fatal mistake by the Trump regime" and warned that “the enemy will pay the consequences of this miscalculation in both the economic and military fields.”
The island sits just offshore from Bandar Abbas, a key port on the Strait of Hormuz, and is a strategic point for controlling shipping lanes. Iran has recently been forcing vessels to pay a $2m fee to pass near the island, a move closely watched by international maritime operators.
Earlier this month, the U.S. announced it had cleared all mines from the main shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump declared that any ship deploying new mines would face destruction. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed the claim as propaganda, while the country has continued to impose its own sanctions against U.S. allies.
The latest confrontation comes after a broad U.S. campaign on 28 February that targeted Iranian facilities, prompting Iran to retaliate against Israel, U.S. bases in the Gulf, and U.S. Arab allies. The ongoing conflict has stalled the transit of about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas that once passed through the strait, heightening global energy concerns.
The U.S. and Israel’s recent missile strikes and Iran’s continued pressure signals a new round of tension that could reshape maritime security in the Middle East. Analysts note that a single incident in this volatile region can trigger wider regional repercussions, making the situation closely monitored by global powers.
