US resumes strikes on Iranian military targets after month-long pause
File photo: Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are rising again (Getty Images)
US military forces struck the Iranian island of Larak, where, according to an official, Iranian forces were preparing to launch missiles carrying mines into the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first US strike against Iran in over a month, CNN reports.
What was targeted
US forces attacked two Iranian launchers on the island, according to Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command. According to the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars News, residents reported an explosion near Larak Island on Sunday.
Why now
Larak Island is located near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route that remains at the center of regional tensions and diplomatic efforts.
Last week, US Central Command completed the clearance of mines from international shipping lanes in the strait. On Tuesday, President Trump stated that Iran had been warned: any ship or boat that lays new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed.
According to a US official, US forces are closely monitoring the area and are ready to defend the free flow of trade through this vital waterway.
Iran's response
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed retaliation on Sunday, accusing the American-Zionist enemy of attacking Larak Island, an attack that, according to them, resulted in casualties among Iranian military personnel and civilians.
In a statement broadcast by the state broadcaster IRIB, an IRGC spokesperson called the Trump administration's action a strategic and fatal mistake.
The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains tense on several fronts at once. According to Bloomberg, the world is ignoring new threats from the US and continues to trade with Iran—Washington's attempt to launch an economic offensive has proved largely ineffective due to China's stance and the reluctance of its allies to sever trade ties.
Meanwhile, Qatar is negotiating with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz—Tehran has agreed to draw up a list of conditions for restoring normal shipping traffic.
However, according to the same Bloomberg report, the Strait of Hormuz likely remains mined despite Trump's claims that it has been completely cleared.
