US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first direct US military action in the area in about a month and ending a lull in fighting during the more than six-month-old conflict with Iran.
A US official said forces affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strategic waterway. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the military operations.
The strike came after the US military completed mine-clearing operations along international shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz last week. Iranian semiofficial media reported explosions near Larak Island, while Iran’s state broadcaster quoted the IRGC as saying that several fighters and civilians were killed or wounded.
The IRGC warned that the attack would lead to retaliation, raising concerns over renewed military escalation around one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The latest action comes only days after the Trump administration indicated that it would increasingly rely on economic pressure and sanctions rather than military operations to force Iran toward an end to the conflict. The administration is also weighing tighter measures against countries and entities continuing to conduct business with Tehran.
The prolonged war has raised concerns about US military readiness, with officials assessing the impact of months of operations on American weapons and ammunition stockpiles.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key source of leverage for Iran. Around 20% of global oil supplies normally pass through the waterway, but commercial traffic has fallen sharply since the conflict began. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the strait is open, citing 24 vessels that crossed last week, but that remains far below the roughly 130 vessels that transited the waterway each day before the war.
A US Navy-led multinational coalition said commercial shipping through the strait remained at reduced levels. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker north of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The renewed US strike and continued threats to commercial shipping underline the growing risks for global energy and maritime trade as the conflict continues.