U.S. Military Hits Iranian Rocket Launchers on Larak Island

U.S. Central Command said its forces hit two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first U.S. strike against Iran since late July. The attack was carried out after U.S. officials observed Iranian personnel preparing rockets equipped with mines for launch into the busy shipping lane.

Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, said the operation targeted the launchers and that U.S. forces continue to monitor the area to ensure the free flow of commerce. Residents near the island reported hearing an explosion, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned the strike, calling it a “strategic and deadly mistake” by the U.S. administration and pledged retaliation. The IRGC’s statement was broadcast by state television.

The incident comes as Iran and Oman discuss a framework to restore maritime traffic through the strait, with Qatar and other regional actors supporting the talks. The United States completed a recent operation to clear sea mines from the international shipping routes, and President Donald Trump said Iran had been warned that any new mines would be destroyed.

When asked for comment, the White House directed inquiries to U.S. Central Command. No direct negotiations between the United States and Iran over a six-month war have been reported.