US Strikes Iranian Rocket Launchers on Larak Island Over Hormuz Mine-Laying Fears, Oil Jumps 2.5%

US forces struck two IRGC rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Aug 30 after observing preparations to fire rockets carrying naval mines into the waterway, per US Central Command — the first US military action against Iran in over a month, and coming just two days after CENTCOM had declared the strait's shipping lanes 'cleared of Iranian mines and open.' Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed casualties and vowed retaliation, then launched missile and drone strikes hours later on the US-linked King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan; Jordan's military said it intercepted eight of the incoming missiles. Oil markets reacted sharply: Brent crude jumped 2.46% to $90.27/bbl and WTI rose 2.47% to $85.46, reversing several days of de-escalation-driven declines and reviving fears that the fragile Iran-Oman shipping corridor announced Aug 26 could collapse before it is ever used.