The United States and Iran have entered a fresh phase of military confrontation after US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, with Tehran later claiming retaliatory missile and drone attacks against US military positions in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The US strike marks the first known American attack on Iran since late July and has raised fresh concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil and energy shipments.
According to a US official, American forces targeted two Iranian launchers after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strategic waterway.
US Central Command spokesman Cdr Tim Hawkins described the operation as a “limited, precise action”, saying the targeted forces posed an imminent threat to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran reports deaths after US strike
Iranian authorities said the US attack caused casualties among soldiers and civilians on Larak Island.
The IRGC later reported that two people were killed and two others injured in the strike.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi described the American operation as a serious mistake by the Trump administration and warned that Washington would face consequences in both economic and military spheres.
Iranian state media also reported that the Revolutionary Guards had promised a response to the attack.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, reported that the US operation was conducted using drones.
Iran claims attacks on US bases in Jordan
Hours after the Larak Island strike, Iranian media reported that the IRGC had launched ballistic missiles toward two US military bases in Jordan.
The reported targets included the King Hussein and Al-Azraq bases.
The IRGC claimed that the attacks caused heavy damage to infrastructure and targeted facilities associated with aircraft maintenance and US fighter jet operations.
Jordanian authorities, however, said their air defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace.
The missiles were intercepted early Monday, according to a statement cited by Jordan’s state-run Petra News Agency.
The competing claims highlight the rapidly escalating military confrontation, with both sides presenting different accounts of the impact of the attacks.
Drone attack reported in UAE
Iran’s military also claimed that it launched a drone attack against the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
Iranian state television, citing an army statement, reported that the attack targeted areas of the base where US personnel and helicopters were stationed.
Iran said the operation was carried out in response to the deaths of IRGC personnel and civilians during the US strike on Larak Island.
There was no immediate response from the UAE to the Iranian claim, while the UAE Defence Ministry had not issued a statement at the time of the report.
US Central Command also did not immediately respond to reports about the alleged drone attack.
Iran claims US drone was shot down
The IRGC separately claimed that Iranian air defences had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, the Revolutionary Guards said the drone crashed into Gulf waters after being targeted by Iranian air-defence missiles.
The US has not immediately confirmed the Iranian claim.
Larak Island is located near Bandar Abbas and directly alongside the Strait of Hormuz, giving it major strategic importance.
The waterway has become a major flashpoint during the conflict because of its role in global energy transportation.
Strait of Hormuz remains major concern
The renewed military activity around Larak Island has intensified concerns about the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has reportedly required tanker traffic to pass near Larak Island for inspections and has allegedly demanded payments from vessels seeking to cross the area.
Any prolonged disruption in the waterway could have consequences for international oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Before the conflict began, approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil and LNG passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest confrontation therefore carries implications far beyond the immediate military exchanges between Washington and Tehran.
US also increases pressure through sanctions
The military escalation comes amid intensified US economic pressure on Iran.
Washington announced a fresh sanctions campaign on August 24, targeting Iran and companies involved in supporting its economy while expanding secondary sanctions against entities doing business with Tehran.
Iranian officials and state media have rejected the latest measures, portraying them as part of Washington’s continuing pressure campaign.
The renewed military confrontation now comes alongside those economic measures, creating additional pressure on Iran and increasing uncertainty across the wider region.
Trump shares videos of Iranian oil facilities
Following the Larak Island strike, US President Donald Trump posted videos on Truth Social that appeared to show explosions at Iranian oil infrastructure.
One video was captioned “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!”, referring to Iran’s major oil terminal on Kharg Island.
Trump did not provide additional details about the footage or confirm whether the videos represented an actual attack.
The development has added to uncertainty surrounding Washington’s next steps as tensions with Tehran continue to rise.
Conflict enters another dangerous phase
The latest confrontation comes more than six months after the United States and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iran on February 28.
Iran subsequently responded with attacks targeting Israel, US military positions and allied states in the Gulf.
The conflict also effectively disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns across global energy markets.
With the latest US strike on Larak Island followed by Iran’s reported missile and drone operations, the confrontation has entered another potentially dangerous phase.
The focus now remains on whether the latest exchange remains limited or develops into a broader military escalation involving US forces, Iran and regional allies.
For international markets and shipping companies, the most immediate concern is the security of the Strait of Hormuz and whether continued military activity could further disrupt one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.
Also read: Heavy Missile Attack Strikes Tel Aviv Following US Strikes on Iran
