US strikes Iranian launchers on Larak Island; Iran responds with ballistic missiles on Jordan bases
The strike marks the first known American attack on Iran since late July and triggers an immediate Iranian counterstrike.
What happened
US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz after observing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the waterway. The IRGC reported the strike killed and wounded several people and vowed response and punishment. Hours later, Iranian media reported the IRGC had launched ballistic missiles at US bases in Jordan (King Hussein and al-Azraq), claiming heavy damage to technical infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and fighter jet positions. Jordan's army stated it intercepted eight missiles that breached Jordanian airspace. The strike is the first known American attack on Iran since President Trump paused military operations in late July.
Context
Larak Island sits offshore from the port of Bandar Abbas and commands access to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas previously traveled. Iran has been requiring tanker traffic to pass inspection at the island and reportedly charging vessels $2 million to cross. The US strike occurs amid escalating tensions: the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, which Iran answered by attacking Israeli and US targets and effectively closing the Strait to traffic, marking six months of active conflict. The strike also comes as the US announced a fresh sanctions campaign on 24 August targeting Iran and its allies. The IRGC framed the strike as a violation of Trump's warnings that any ship or boat deploying new mines would be destroyed.
What's disputed
Trump claimed last week that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran have been detonated or removed; Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed this as propaganda and described it as deceptive. The extent of damage from the Iranian ballistic missile attack on Jordan is unconfirmed—the IRGC claimed heavy damage while Jordan reported only interception of the missiles.