This article is from: srnnews.com
(AP) – U.S. forces have carried out a limited strike against Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, targeting what American officials described as an imminent threat to civilian shipping and international commerce.
The operation, conducted Sunday, was the first confirmed U.S. military action against Iranian targets in about a month. It ended a temporary lull in fighting during a conflict that has continued intermittently for more than six months.
U.S. Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said forces linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps were preparing to launch rockets and deploy sea mines in the strait, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
The U.S. military had completed clearing mines from international shipping routes in the waterway just last week.
American officials say the strike was defensive, limited, and precise.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said Iran “created the threat” and that the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce.
The operation comes as Iran has continued targeting U.S. military bases, regional infrastructure, and shipping connected to the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway normally carries about 20 percent of the world’s oil, but commercial traffic has fallen sharply since the war began.
Iranian semiofficial media reported explosions near Larak Island. The Revolutionary Guard acknowledged that several of its fighters and other Iranians were killed or wounded.
Iranian officials vowed retaliation.
State television later broadcast images it said showed ballistic missiles being launched at American bases in Jordan. Jordan’s armed forces said eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace were intercepted early Monday.
The developments raise concerns about a return to open conflict across the region, even as the Trump administration has recently emphasized economic pressure over expanded military operations.
The administration has threatened sanctions against countries and entities that continue doing business with Tehran. That approach reflects an effort to weaken Iran’s ability to fund attacks while avoiding unnecessary escalation and preserving American military readiness.
The latest strike also follows weeks of U.S. efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy has redirected 83 commercial vessels and disabled three under a blockade of Iranian ports, according to the U.S. military.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the strait remains open, noting that 24 vessels crossed last week. But that figure is far below the roughly 130 vessels that passed through each day before the war.
A multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy said commercial traffic remained at reduced levels. A British maritime monitoring agency also reported that an unknown projectile struck a tanker north of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday. No deaths, environmental damage, or immediate claim of responsibility were reported.
Iranian officials called the U.S. action a mistake and threatened military and economic consequences. But Washington says the responsibility lies with Tehran, arguing that Iran’s preparations to mine the waterway left the United States with little choice but to act.
Trump has said he is not rushing Iran back to negotiations and continues to argue that the country’s leadership, military, and economy have been severely weakened.
The administration’s message is clear: the United States prefers economic pressure and diplomacy, but it will use force when necessary to defend American personnel, protect global shipping, and keep a critical international waterway open.
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