U.S. forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first publicly confirmed American attack on Iranian territory since late July according to BBC World.
A U.S. Central Command spokesman said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait. The IRGC's public relations head, Hossein Mohebbi, condemned the strike as a "strategic and fatal mistake" and vowed "response and punishment." Iranian state media, which initially reported the attack was carried out by drones, said it killed two people and wounded two others.
Within hours, the IRGC claimed it had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan, stating the attack caused "heavy damage" to technical infrastructure and fighter jet positions. Jordan's army, however, said it had intercepted eight missiles that breached its airspace.
A Direct Hit on Iran’s Strategic Waterway Choke Point
The location of the strike is as significant as the strike itself. Larak Island sits directly on the Strait of Hormuz, a few miles offshore from Iran’s key port of Bandar Abbas.
"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into Strait of Hormuz," U.S. Central Command spokesman Cdr Tim Hawkins told CBS News.
For months, Iran has been leveraging its control over the Strait, forcing tanker traffic to pass by Larak for inspection and reportedly charging vessels $2m (£1.5m) to cross. Before the war began, roughly 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transited this narrow waterway.
By hitting launchers on this island, the U.S. targeted the physical infrastructure Iran uses to project power and enforce its blockade, a more direct move than previous strikes on Iranian proxies elsewhere. This follows a pattern of escalating attacks detailed in our earlier reporting on Iran Cyberattack Shuts UK Power Plant Amid US Sanctions.
From Proxy War to a Dangerous New Phase
The strike signifies a clear tactical shift. For months, the conflict has played out through Iran-backed groups attacking U.S. assets in Iraq and Syria, with the U.S. responding against those proxies. This attack moves the battlefront onto Iranian soil, targeting the IRGC directly at a key operational node.
This escalation comes just days after former President Donald Trump stated that all Iranian-laid mines in the Strait had been cleared and warned that any vessel deploying new ones would be destroyed. Iran dismissed this claim as propaganda. The U.S. action on Larak Island proves Washington is willing to enforce that警告 preemptively.
The attack also lands amid a renewed U.S. economic campaign against Tehran. On 24 August, Washington announced a fresh sanctions drive aimed at further isolating Iran. Iranian officials have dismissed it as a continuation of past measures, arguing it follows U.S. military failures. Now, with a direct military strike layered atop economic pressure, the U.S. is applying a "maximum pressure" strategy across both domains.
Tehran’s Limited and Dangerous Menu of Retaliation
Iran's immediate response, a claimed missile attack on U.S. bases in Jordan, shows its preferred method: a proportional but deniable retaliatory strike. Jordan's interception of the missiles, however, highlights the challenges Iran faces in landing an effective blow.
XOOMAR Analysis: Iran's options are constrained. A full-scale military confrontation with the U.S. remains a losing proposition. Yet, the regime cannot appear passive after a direct hit on its territory and the reported civilian casualties.
- Proxy Escalation: The most likely path is a significant escalation in attacks by Iran's network of allies. This could mean intensified strikes on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, or more aggressive Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
- Strategic Patience: Iran could also opt for a delayed response, leveraging its cyber capabilities to strike critical infrastructure, a tactic seen in the recent Iran Cyberattack Shuts UK Power Plant Amid US Sanctions.
- Nuclear Brinkmanship: The already moribund efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal will be buried. Iran may accelerate its uranium enrichment activities or restrict International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, using the progress as a bargaining chip.
The next 72 hours are critical. The world will be watching for any U.S. or allied casualties from the Jordan attack, and for any new mining or missile activity in the Strait of Hormuz. The risk now is a rapid, miscalculated cycle of action and reaction that pushes a simmering conflict toward a boil.
The Stakes
- The strike directly targets Iran's ability to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for 20% of global oil and gas.
- It represents a significant escalation by striking Iranian territory rather than proxies, risking direct military confrontation.
- Iran's retaliatory missile launches threaten U.S. bases and regional stability, potentially triggering a wider conflict.
Originally published on XOOMAR. For more news and analysis, visit XOOMAR.
