US forces have struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, marking the first known American military action against Iran since late July and raising fresh fears of renewed escalation in the region.
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A US official said the strikes were carried out after American forces observed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy and shipping routes.
The attack comes shortly after US forces completed efforts to clear sea mines from the international shipping lanes in the strait. Washington has warned Iran that any attempt to place new mines in the waterway would face an immediate military response.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the US attack killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians and vowed that Tehran would respond. Iranian media also reported that the United States carried out the operation using drones.
The strikes have added fresh uncertainty to an already fragile situation, with tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz threatening global shipping and energy supplies. The waterway has historically carried roughly one-fifth of the world's oil shipments.
The latest US-Iran confrontation could further complicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, while raising concerns that renewed military exchanges could once again disrupt one of the world's most strategically important waterways