The United States has carried out fresh air strikes against Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz, marking its first reported attacks on Iran since late July and adding to tensions surrounding the vital waterway.
US officials said the strikes took place on Sunday on Larak Island, where Iranian forces were allegedly preparing to deploy rockets and sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
“Earlier today, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz,” US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said in a message to AFP.
Washington said the operation was intended to prevent Iran from deploying additional sea mines in the strategic waterway, days after the US announced that it had completed efforts to clear explosives from international shipping routes.
“US forces took limited, precise action against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” the US Central Command wrote on X.
The latest strikes come as the administration of US President Donald Trump has increasingly focused on what it describes as “economic warfare” against Iran rather than sustained military operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the conflict. Before the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran on February 28, the strategic waterway handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies.
“Last week, CENTCOM completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command.
“US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,” he said.
Although an April ceasefire brought an end to the most intense phase of fighting, intermittent attacks—particularly around the Strait of Hormuz have continued to raise concerns about the prospects for a lasting peace agreement.
The latest US operation follows an earlier strike on Iran on July 29, which the US military said was carried out in response to “an attempted surprise attack on US forces” in the region.
Earlier in July, US Central Command also conducted strikes against Iran for 13 consecutive nights.
Iran has responded throughout the conflict by targeting US military facilities and American allies across the Gulf, with attacks reported in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also had consequences beyond the region, contributing to higher prices and shortages affecting energy and fertiliser supplies.
Global oil markets reacted to the renewed tensions, with both major crude oil contracts rising by at least two per cent on Monday.
The latest strikes therefore add another layer of uncertainty to an already fragile ceasefire, with developments around the Strait of Hormuz continuing to carry significant implications for regional security and the global energy market.
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