The United States said Sunday it had carried out air strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking its first attacks on Iran since late July.
“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 the Strait of Hormuz,” US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said in a message to AFP.
Washington said the strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from placing more sea mines in the strait, days after it announced it had completed clearing explosives from the waterway. “US forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” the US Central Command said on X.
In recent weeks, the administration of US President Donald Trump has prioritised “economic warfare” over military strikes on Iran. Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea lane through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the US and Israel triggered hostilities with strikes on Iran on February 28.
“Last week, CENTCOM completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes,” Hawkins said, adding that US forces remain “prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway.
“The April ceasefire ended the most intense fighting, but sporadic attacks — mainly around the Strait of Hormuz — have dimmed prospects for a final peace agreement. The last US strike on Iran before Sunday came on July 29, in response to what the US military described as “an attempted surprise attack on US forces” in the region. Earlier in July, CENTCOM struck Iran for 13 consecutive nights.
Throughout the war, Iran has retaliated by striking US facilities and allies across the Gulf, hitting targets in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Its closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused global economic pain, including price hikes and shortages of fertiliser and energy.
Both main crude oil contracts rose at least two per cent on Monday.
