▲ Ships floating in the Strait of Hormuz
The US military struck two rocket launchers belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, southern Iran, on the 30th local time.
This marks the US military's first military strike against Iran in about a month.
Reuters, AP, and other news agencies reported, citing an anonymous US official, that the US military carried out airstrikes against two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island that morning.
The official explained that the background of the attack was the observation that the IRGC was preparing to fire mine-equipped rockets into the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters also reported that Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency stated that explosions were heard near Larak Island that day, though the cause was not yet known.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported that at least two people were killed and two others were injured in the US airstrikes.
The US military strike comes about a month after military attacks against Iran were halted on July 24 under the direction of US President Donald Trump.
Since then, the Trump administration has shifted its direction toward large-scale economic sanctions that further tighten the financial lifeline of the Iranian regime, instead of military attacks on Iran.
President Trump announced via social media on the 19th that he would launch a massive economic isolation campaign against Iran, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on the 24th an "economic pariah operation" centered on sanctioning even third countries trading with Iran.
In addition, the US military's attack came five days after President Trump stated on the 25th, "I have just received a report from the US Navy that all mines located in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz have been removed and blown up."
At the time, President Trump emphasized, "Iran has been notified that any vessels laying new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed," stressing a "comprehensive and effective zero-tolerance policy" against mine laying, raising the possibility that this US military attack was carried out as an extension of that stance.
Iran has vowed strong retaliation against the US military attack.
The IRGC public relations office stated in an official statement, "The enemy's terrorist act targeting Larak Island will face a strong response, and the aggressors will be punished."
It also claimed, "The US and Zionist enemies are once again showing their wicked true colors out of desperation to escape mounting internal problems and recover their plummeting credibility among regional countries, attempting to mislead public opinion," adding, "Due to their shameless act of aggression, Larak Island was attacked, and several of our soldiers and compatriots were martyred (killed) and injured."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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