US Strikes Iranian Launch Sites on Larak Island: "Blocking Hormuz Mine Deployment"

First Strike Inside Iran Since Military Operations Halted in Late July
U.S.: "Observed Preparations to Launch Rockets Equipped With Naval Mines"
IRGC: "The Aggressors Will Surely Be Punished"

On August 30 (local time), U.S. forces struck two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launchers located on Larak Island in the southern Hormuz Strait of Iran. The U.S. launched a preemptive strike after detecting movements by Iranian forces preparing to launch rockets to deploy naval mines in the Hormuz Strait.

This attack marks the first reported U.S. strike inside Iran since U.S. President Donald Trump halted a two-week military operation in the Hormuz Strait at the end of July.

Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported, "The U.S. military attacked two Iranian launchers on Larak Island this morning," adding, "IRGC troops were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying naval mines into the Hormuz Strait." The U.S. official stated, "The U.S. military is closely monitoring the area and stands ready to protect the freedom of commercial activity through the Hormuz Strait."

This strike came immediately after the U.S. completed operations to remove mines from major shipping lanes in the Hormuz Strait. At that time, President Trump warned Iran that any ships or boats attempting to lay new mines would be "immediately and systematically destroyed."

The launchers on Larak Island targeted by the U.S. military were also intended to prevent Iran from redeploying mines into the Hormuz Strait, according to U.S. officials.

The IRGC immediately vowed retaliation. In a statement, the IRGC claimed that several Iranian soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the U.S. attack, vowing, "This attack will be answered by the sons of Iran, and any aggressor will be punished."

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing the IRGC statement, also reported that several fighters and civilians had died or been injured in the Larak Island attack. However, the exact scale of the casualties was not released. Tasnim News Agency reported that at least two people were killed and two wounded.

Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei also called for unity among Muslim countries on the same day, increasing pressure against the U.S. and Israel. In a written message, Khamenei urged leaders of Islamic nations to "recognize who the true enemy is, understand their plans, and confront them."

He especially emphasized to leaders of West Asian and Gulf states the need to respond collectively to external threats. However, this statement was more a general call for Islamic unity than a direct declaration of retaliation for the Larak Island airstrike.

Meanwhile, the latest U.S. strike on Iran comes as the Trump administration resumes economic pressure against Tehran. On August 19, President Trump announced a large-scale operation aimed at isolating Iran from the international economic system, and on August 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the so-called "economic outcast operation," which targets for sanctions even third countries conducting transactions with Iran.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.