U.S. forces struck a pair of rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first military action taken against Iran in weeks, according to military officials in a report published August 30.
The strikes on Larak Island were conducted to prevent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces from deploying new sea mines into the strait, a U.S. Central Command spokesman said in a statement.
This military action is the first publicly announced attack against Iranian forces since August 1, when President Donald Trump announced a pause in hostilities after stating that the perimeters of a deal to end the war against Tehran had been reached.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the attack via a statement carried by state media, reporting that several fighters and civilians were killed and vowing retaliation.
While the U.S. Central Command recently announced it completed clearing sea mines from the main shipping lane, Iran has been using mines, missiles, and military drones to restrict maritime traffic in the waterway since the conflict began in February.
Despite assertions that the strait is open, the Hormuz Strait Monitor reported that only three vessels were transiting the waterway on Sunday, representing 5% of normal daily volume, while 383 vessels were waiting to pass.
Although Iran and Oman reached a revenue-sharing arrangement and agreed to temporary shipping lane coordinates last week, the IRGC is maintaining its closure until the United States meets its conditions. Direct talks between Washington and Tehran expired on Aug. 17 without a deal.
