US Forces Strike Iranian Rocket Launchers Near Strait of Hormuz to Prevent Sea Mine Deployment

US forces successfully targeted and struck Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to a US official, marking the first military action by the United States against Iran in a month.

The official stated that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was actively preparing to launch rockets equipped with sea mines into the critical waterway when the strike occurred. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported multiple explosions near Larak Island.

The IRGC released a statement acknowledging casualties among both fighters and civilians, noting "the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots" without providing a specific casualty figure. The organization vowed that the attack would "result in punishment of the aggressor."

This military intervention follows recent assertions from the administration of US President Donald Trump indicating a shift toward prioritizing economic pressure on Tehran over military engagements. President Trump warned last week that any vessel attempting to lay new mines in international shipping lanes within the Strait of Hormuz would be destroyed, noting that previous mines had already been cleared.

The previous known US strikes on Iran occurred in late July. Since then, active fighting had largely paused as Washington concentrated on economic measures, including threats of sanctions against nations maintaining business ties with Tehran.

The broader conflict, which surpassed the six-month mark, began when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, leading to retaliatory actions by Tehran against Israel and Gulf states hosting US military facilities. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions of people, and the loss of eighteen US service members, while severely disrupting commercial shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz energy route.