The United States has carried out its first known strikes against Iran in several weeks, hitting two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, according to a US official.
The US Central Command said Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces had been preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz when the American military carried out the attack.
The development has heightened tensions around one of the world’s most important shipping routes, which lies close to Larak Island and is crucial to the global movement of oil and liquefied natural gas.
Iranian authorities confirmed that the attack caused casualties, with state-linked media reporting that two people were killed and two others injured. An IRGC spokesman condemned the operation and warned that Washington would face consequences.
The situation escalated further after Iranian state media reported that the IRGC launched ballistic missiles at US military facilities in Jordan in retaliation for the strike. Jordanian authorities subsequently said their air-defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace.
The latest confrontation comes amid continuing disputes over the security of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been at the centre of tensions between Iran and the United States, particularly over attempts to restrict or control maritime traffic.
US President Donald Trump had previously warned Iran against deploying new mines in the strait, saying vessels involved in such activity could be targeted.
Iran, however, has rejected some of Washington’s claims concerning the removal of mines from the waterway, describing them as propaganda.
The new military exchange also comes as Washington increases economic pressure on Tehran through additional sanctions.
With the Strait of Hormuz carrying a significant share of global energy supplies, further military escalation in the region could have serious consequences for international shipping, energy prices and the wider global economy.
