US strike hits Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States carried out an attack on Sunday against two rocket launchers spotted on the island of Larak, in the Strait of Hormuz. A US official disclosed this, saying it was the first American military action in the region in the past thirty days.

Some Iranian media reported sounds consistent with explosions in the area that was hit. The Revolutionary Guards said the strike caused deaths and injuries among both their own fighters and the Iranian civilian population present in the area. An official toll has not yet been released. Initial figures, provided by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, put the death toll at two, with two more wounded.

The naval mine background

According to the account given by the US official, forces of the Revolutionary Guard Corps had been spotted preparing to launch rockets loaded with naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The US strike therefore appears linked to an attempt to prevent that launch before it was actually carried out.

The episode comes just days after another operation by US forces: last week, the US military had already completed the removal of mines of the same type, which had been laid along the same international shipping route.

The Revolutionary Guards responded to the attack by announcing their intent to retaliate and punish those responsible. The announcement was reported by Iran's state broadcaster IRIB.