US Strikes Lark Island in Southern Iran, Ending Weeks of Military Lull

A US official has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the United States has struck Lark Island in southern Iran, marking the first attack against the country since late July. Tehran has vowed to retaliate for the Sunday operation.

The strikes threaten to reignite military hostilities at a time when the US has been transitioning from an active bombing campaign toward a financial pressure strategy during the ongoing six-month US-Israel war on Iran.

According to the US official, the targets were launchers prepared to fire rockets carrying mines toward the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that explosions echoed near the island.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later confirmed the attack by the “American-Zionist enemy,” stating that multiple soldiers were killed and injured. In an official statement, the IRGC warned that “This act will be responded to by the sons of Islamic Iran and will result in punishment of the aggressor.”

In recent weeks, the US has asserted dominance over the strategic waterway, claiming it successfully escorts millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz despite an ongoing Iranian blockade. Nevertheless, ship attacks in Hormuz continue to be reported almost daily, and Iran insists the strait remains closed.

Sunday’s action demonstrates that the US remains prepared to deploy military force despite its broader reliance on sanctions to compel Iran into concessions regarding its nuclear program and the control of Hormuz. Historically, Iran has responded to comparable US strikes by targeting military installations hosting US troops in neighboring countries with missiles and drones.