US Forces Strike Iranian Rocket Launchers Near Strait of Hormuz

U.S. forces have carried out a fresh strike against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known American military action against Iran in about a month, according to U.S. officials and reports from multiple outlets.

A U.S. official said American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, located near the strategic waterway, after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

The operation represents a significant escalation after a period of relative calm following the U.S. military’s previous campaign in the region. Axios reported that President Donald Trump had paused the U.S. military campaign in late July, making Sunday’s operation the first known U.S. strike inside Iran since then.

The U.S. military’s latest action comes days after American forces said they had completed clearing sea mines from the Strait of Hormuz’s main international shipping route.

The waterway is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime passages, carrying a major share of global oil and gas shipments. Washington has repeatedly warned Iran against attempting to disrupt commercial shipping or deploy additional mines.

According to the U.S. official cited by AP, IRGC forces were seen preparing to launch rockets equipped with sea mines into the strait when the American strike was carried out.

The official said U.S. forces would continue monitoring the area and remain prepared to protect the movement of commercial shipping.

Iranian semi-official media outlets reported explosions near Larak Island on Sunday.

Reuters reported that Iran’s Fars news agency said an explosion was heard near the island but initially reported that its cause was unknown. Reuters subsequently reported that the U.S. had struck two launchers on the island, citing a U.S. official.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later acknowledged that the island had been attacked.

According to Reuters, the IRGC said the U.S. attack killed and wounded several Iranian fighters and civilians, although it did not provide a precise casualty figure. The Guards also vowed to retaliate against the United States.

The latest strike comes amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the security of international shipping.

The U.S. has said its military operations are aimed at keeping the waterway open and preventing threats to commercial vessels. Iran, meanwhile, has repeatedly warned that it will respond to attacks on its territory.

The latest exchange therefore raises concerns that the fragile lull in direct U.S.-Iran military action could be ending.

For now, the full extent of the damage from Sunday’s strike and the exact number of casualties remain unclear.