US, Iran Trade Fire as Regional Hostilities Reignite

“Iran created the threat and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce,” CENTCOM said.

By United with Israel Staff

U.S. forces struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island on Sunday after intelligence indicated that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was preparing to fire missiles carrying naval mines toward the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first reported U.S. strike on Iranian targets in weeks.

A senior U.S. official told Al Jazeera that the launchers were preparing to deploy the mines into the strategically vital waterway. U.S. Central Command later described the operation as “limited, precise action” against IRGC minelaying forces that posed an imminent threat to civilian mariners, commercial shipping and global commerce.

The IRGC said the attack killed and wounded several Iranian fighters and civilians and vowed retaliation.

“The terrorist enemy’s aggression on Larak Island will be met with punishment for the aggressor,” the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iranian state media.

CENTCOM rejected Tehran’s characterization of the operation as an act of aggression.

“In essence, Iran created the threat and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global commerce,” CENTCOM said.

Hours later, Iran launched fresh attacks across the region, firing missiles that entered Jordanian airspace and sending a drone toward the United Arab Emirates.

Jordan’s Armed Forces said it intercepted eight Iranian missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace Sunday, according to state media cited by Reuters.

The UAE separately announced that its air defenses had intercepted an Iranian drone over the country’s territorial waters, condemning the incident as a “hostile Iranian attack” and a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty, security and stability.

The UAE Foreign Ministry said it would “not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances” and reserved its right to respond in a manner necessary to protect the country and its citizens.

Abu Dhabi also accused Tehran of violating the cessation of hostilities and said it held Iran “fully responsible for these attacks and their repercussions.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, making any attempt to mine the waterway a potentially significant threat to commercial shipping and global energy markets.