US strikes Iranian launchers as tensions rise over Hormuz
US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, marking the first reported American attacks on Iranian territory since late July and sharply escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
A US official told Axios that the strikes targeted rocket systems allegedly being prepared to deploy sea mines into the strategic waterway, a critical route for global oil shipments.
The United States said it was closely monitoring the area and remained prepared to protect the free flow of commerce. The Strait of Hormuz narrows to about 39 kilometers between Larak Island and Oman’s Great Quoin Island.
Iranian casualties reported
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said several fighters and civilians were killed or wounded in the attack and vowed to respond.
Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that preliminary information indicated the attack was carried out by drones. Further details on the damage and casualties were not immediately available.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Tehran was not seeking war but would not remain passive in the face of further aggression.
“Tehran is not looking for war,” Pezeshkian said before departing for Kyrgyzstan, according to Fars news agency. He warned that Iran would give a decisive response if attacked again.
“Instability and unrest in the region are not in the interest of any country and will challenge everyone,” he said.
Hours after the Larak Island strike, Iran’s IRGC said it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC said its air defense forces hit the long-range drone with missile fire early Monday, causing it to crash into Gulf waters, according to Mehr News Agency.
The United States has not immediately provided details confirming the Iranian claim.
The reported drone incident adds another point of confrontation between Tehran and Washington as both sides maintain military operations around the strategic waterway.
Dispute over sea mines
The latest US strike comes amid an escalating dispute over the presence of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump recently said all mines had been removed from the waterway and warned that Washington would adopt a “zero tolerance policy” toward any new attempts to place mines.
Trump said the United States was using Space Force technology to monitor the area with what he described as extreme precision.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have said that only Iran knows the location of mines in the strategic waterway.
Trump renews nuclear warning
Trump also reiterated that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, arguing that Tehran would use such a weapon if it acquired one.
In an interview with Fox News published Sunday, Trump described Iran’s leadership as “very violent” and “evil” and said the United States was inflicting significant damage on the country.
He also praised what he described as an effective US blockade and said American forces were hitting Iran harder than it had ever been hit before.
Trump further claimed that Iran had lost support after targeting Gulf countries and said the United States was winning its conflicts against Iran and Venezuela.
Uncertain path ahead
The latest confrontation follows months of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, including US military strikes, a naval blockade and diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.
The Larak Island attack is the first reported US strike on Iranian territory since late July, raising questions over whether it was a limited operation or the beginning of a broader renewed campaign.
With Iran threatening a decisive response and the United States maintaining its focus on the Strait of Hormuz, the risk of further military escalation remains high.
Source:AA
