US Strikes Iranian Rocket Launchers on Larak Island — First US Strike Since Late July

US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, August 30, after IRGC forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strait. CENTCOM spokesman Cdr. (Capt.) Tim Hawkins said the US took 'limited, precise action' to prevent the mine-laying and denied the strike constituted an 'act of aggression,' placing blame for the escalation on Iran. The IRGC said the strike caused 'the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters' without giving a precise toll, and vowed a response. This was the first publicly acknowledged US strike on Iranian territory since late July, ending a roughly month-long lull in direct US-Iran strikes and immediately reviving oil-market fears of a wider flare-up along the Hormuz chokepoint.