U.S. forces struck two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Persian Gulf on Sunday, killing or injuring several soldiers. This marks the first American attack on Iranian territory since late July, and is a departure from the Trump administration’s declared pivot from bombing to financial warfare.
U.S. Central Command claimed they hit the launchers after surveillance detected that the IRGC was preparing to fire sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. This follows an Aug. 25 post on Truth Social where Trump claimed that all mines had now been cleared from the strait, and that any ship or boat found placing new mines would be immediately destroyed.
Iran has apparently already retaliated, saying in a statement Monday morning that it had struck two U.S. military bases in Jordan—King Hussein Air Base and Muwaffaq Salti—in response to what it called “the US-Israeli enemy’s attack on Larak Island,” reported Press TV. The IRGC statement said they had targeted maintenance and technical infrastructure and the areas where fighter aircraft are parked. Reports from various media indicate that ballistic missiles were seen over Jordan, though there are conflicting reports as to how much damage was caused.
