The United States has struck two Iranian military launchers on Larak Island after Washington said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel were preparing to deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated on Monday by launching ballistic missiles at US military bases in Jordan, according to Iranian media, marking a sharp escalation in the confrontation.

The exchange is the latest escalation in a conflict that had remained relatively calm since June. The US strike was the first known American attack inside Iran since late July, when President Donald Trump halted a two-week military campaign linked to the strategic waterway.

Washington Says Strike Was Intended To Protect Shipping

A US official told Axios that American forces targeted two Iranian launchers after IRGC personnel were observed preparing rockets carrying sea mines for deployment into the Strait of Hormuz.

“Earlier today, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into Strait of Hormuz,” the official said, according to Axios.

The official added that US forces were “monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce” through the waterway.

The US military had recently completed an operation to clear mines from the main shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump subsequently warned Iran against attempting to place new mines in the waterway.

“There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, warning that any ship or boat involved in placing new mines would be “immediately and systematically destroyed”.

Iran Launches Missile Strikes On US Bases

Iran responded to the Larak Island attack by targeting American military positions in Jordan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched ballistic missile attacks on the King Hussein and Al Azraq US bases, Iranian media reported.

The IRGC had earlier vowed to respond to the American strike, saying it “will be answered by the sons of Iran and will result in the punishment of the aggressor”, according to Iranian state media.

Reuters reported that Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said the US attack had killed and wounded several Iranian personnel and civilians. An IRGC spokesperson also said Washington would pay for the Larak strike on both economic and military fronts.

Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, separately reported that a drone had carried out the attack, killing two people and wounding two others.

The latest exchange raises the possibility of a renewed military confrontation between Washington and Tehran as the US increasingly combines military pressure with economic measures.

Strait Of Hormuz Remains Central To Conflict

The confrontation comes as Washington claims to have strengthened its control over the Strait of Hormuz. US officials have said millions of barrels of oil have been moved through the waterway under military protection despite Iran’s blockade.

Attacks on vessels in and around the strait have nevertheless continued to be reported almost daily, while Tehran maintains that the strategically important waterway remains closed.

Iran has previously responded to US strikes by launching missiles and drones at American military bases in neighbouring countries hosting US forces.

The Trump administration has also intensified its economic campaign against Tehran. Last week, Washington announced what it described as “D-Day” sanctions, threatening secondary sanctions against countries and companies that continue conducting business with Iran.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, however, has warned that the United States remains prepared to use military force if necessary.

US officials have argued that Iran’s ability to control the Strait of Hormuz is declining and that sanctions and the blockade of Iranian ports are placing growing pressure on its economy. Tehran has rejected the campaign and maintained that it is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Why Larak Island Is Strategically Important

Larak is a small Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, located off the coast of Bandar Abbas, east of Qeshm Island and south of Hormuz Island. The island covers roughly 49 square kilometres but occupies a strategically important position close to one of the world’s major maritime chokepoints.

Larak is home to an IRGC Navy base and has long held military significance because of its position overlooking shipping routes through the strait. Historical accounts have also recorded military installations and missile sites on the island.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a critical route for global energy supplies. Before the current conflict disrupted shipping, around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the waterway.

For Washington, keeping the strait open has become a central military objective, while Tehran has repeatedly used its ability to disrupt shipping as leverage during periods of heightened tension.

The US strike on Larak Island and Iran’s subsequent missile attacks on American bases in Jordan have therefore opened another potentially dangerous phase in the confrontation, with the two sides once again exchanging direct military strikes after weeks of relative calm.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share