The United States has launched strikes against Larak Island in southern Iran, marking the first such military action in weeks and prompting Tehran to vow retaliation as the conflict enters its seventh month.
The United States carried out military strikes targeting Larak Island in Iran's south on Sunday, according to confirmation from a US official to Al Jazeera. The operation represents the first American attack against Iran since late July and signals a continuation of military engagement despite reported shifts toward financial pressure tactics. According to US authorities, the strikes focused on launcher systems positioned to fire rocket-equipped mines toward the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's state media reported explosions near the island, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps subsequently acknowledging the attack and stating that several soldiers were killed or wounded. In an official statement, the IRGC characterized the strikes as an assault by the "American-Zionist enemy" and promised a response. Spokesperson Sardar Mohebi described the action as a "strategic and fatal mistake" that would incur consequences in both military and economic domains.
The incident occurs amid ongoing disputes over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel. The US has recently asserted that it maintains control of the waterway and has successfully protected millions of barrels of oil transiting through it under military escort. However, Iran maintains that the strait remains closed and has been implicated in nearly daily attacks on commercial vessels. The strikes demonstrate that despite stated emphasis on sanctions-based pressure regarding Iran's nuclear program, the US retains willingness to deploy military force in the region.