United States forces launched a military strike against Iranian rocket launchers near Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first confirmed US action against Iran in a month according to Indiatimes. A US official told Aljazeera that the operation targeted launchers on Larak that were prepared to fire rockets carrying mines toward the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated that Washington executed a limited and precise action against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps minelaying forces posing an imminent threat, as reported by Etnownews.com.
US Forces Strike Iranian Launchers on Larak Island
The strike broke a weeks-long lull in fighting that began after the US launched a heavy wave of strikes on July 29 against dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets. President Donald Trump subsequently stated on August 1 that he would hold off on further strikes following appeals from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. However, the Trump administration recently shifted focus toward financial pressure, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing plans to impose sanctions on another bank to clamp down on Iranian transactions.
Iran Retaliates With Missile Attack on US Bases in Jordan
In response to the Larak Island operation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a combined missile and drone operation targeting US military installations in Jordan, according to Aljazeera. The IRGC stated that the operation, designated Punishment of the Aggressor,
struck the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan using solid-fuel Kheibar Shekan ballistic missiles, as noted by Etnownews.com and usnews.com.
Jordanian forces reported intercepting eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace, while a Fox News reporter noted in an X post that nearly all incoming missiles had been intercepted with no significant impact reported initially. Iranian state media claimed the strikes killed and wounded several soldiers and citizens. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of the Iranian parliament, condemned the US attack on X, warning of a devastating response.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions and Energy Market Impacts
The military exchange comes as tensions persist over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The US has claimed control over the waterway, stating that millions of barrels of oil have passed through under US military protection and noting that all mines had been cleared or detonated. Conversely, the IRGC Navy maintained that it holds full control and that the waterway is closed to ships transiting without coordination with Tehran. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that an unidentified merchant vessel was struck by a projectile north of Khasab, Oman.
The renewed conflict immediately affected global energy markets. Following the Larak Island strike, Brent crude futures climbed 2.52 percent to $90.32 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate crude reached $85.41 a barrel. Average petrol prices in the US have remained above $4 per gallon, contributing to inflation pressures as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its seventh month.
