U.S. forces carried out missile strikes Sunday against two rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such action against Iran in more than a month. The strikes occurred as Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing to launch rockets equipped with sea mines into the strait.
Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins stated that U.S. forces are monitoring the area and are prepared to protect the free flow of commerce. He also noted that the U.S. military had recently completed clearing sea mines from the strait's international shipping routes.
Iranian news outlets reported hearing explosions near Larak Island, which is situated on the strait. The Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement acknowledging the "martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots" and vowing that the attack would result in the "punishment of the aggressor."
The military actions come days after the Trump administration announced a pivot towards increasing economic pressure on Iran, rather than relying on military action, in an effort to conclude the ongoing war. This strategy change involves threatening sanctions against any nation or entity continuing to conduct business with Tehran.
The administration's shift to prioritizing sanctions coincides with concerns over diminished munitions stockpiles following months of conflict, raising questions about potential impacts on U.S. military readiness globally. President Trump has indicated a lack of urgency in negotiating an end to the war, asserting that Iran's leadership is weakened.
U.S. and Israeli campaigns have reportedly inflicted significant damage on Iran's naval and air forces, with Iranian officials estimating direct and indirect damages at $270 billion. Early Israeli military strikes are said to have dismantled much of the Iranian government's leadership structure.
However, Iran has countered by leveraging its position in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world's oil normally flows. Despite President Trump's assertions that the strait remains open, traffic has significantly decreased from the roughly 130 vessels that transited daily before the war. A multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy confirmed that commercial traffic through the strait remains at reduced levels.
Separately, a British military monitoring agency reported that an unidentified projectile struck a tanker ship on Saturday north of Khasab, Oman, in the vicinity of the strait. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization noted that the ship sustained no casualties or environmental damage, citing unspecified military authorities. No group has immediately claimed responsibility for this incident.