US Forces Conduct Strikes on Iranian Launchers on Larak Island

US forces have struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, according to a US official, marking the first known American strikes on Iran since late July. Commander Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command (Centcom), stated that forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC reported that the attack resulted in casualties and vowed to respond. They claimed to have launched an attack on US military targets in Jordan in retaliation, as reported by Iranian state media. Jordan's army confirmed that it intercepted eight missiles that entered its airspace shortly after the IRGC's statement. The US strike is the first since President Donald Trump paused military operations in late July. Larak Island is located near the strategic port of Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global shipping. Iran has been making tanker traffic pass by this island for inspections and reportedly charging vessels $2 million to cross. Hossein Mohebbi, the IRGC's spokesman, described the US attack as a significant error by the Trump administration, warning of consequences in economic and military terms. Iranian media reported that the attack was conducted using drones, resulting in two fatalities and two injuries. Following the US strike, the IRGC claimed to have targeted US bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles, causing significant damage. Trump stated that all mines placed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz had been detonated or removed, a claim that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister dismissed as propaganda. The US announced a new sanctions campaign against Iran on August 24, aimed at isolating Tehran further. Iranian officials have characterized these sanctions as a continuation of previous measures following the US's military failures. The ongoing conflict has now surpassed six months, with a significant portion of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz before the war began.