The U.S. military conducted limited strikes on Iranian Revolutionary Guard units in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, citing an immediate threat from naval mines laid near the critical shipping lane. Centcom described the action as targeted measures against mine-laying teams on Larak Island, a location near the contested waterway that has been a flashpoint in recent months.
Iran responded with a combined drone and missile attack on two U.S. military bases in Jordan, which were intercepted by Jordanian air defenses. Iranian state media claimed the strikes were retaliation for the U.S. operation, reporting two deaths and two injuries on Larak Island. Jordan’s military said eight incoming rockets were destroyed before reaching targets, with no civilian or property damage reported.
The U.S. denied Iran’s characterization of the strikes as an act of aggression, asserting that the operation eliminated an Iranian-created threat to civilian mariners and commercial shipping. Centcom emphasized protection of the free flow of goods through the strait, a vital corridor for global oil, gas and fertilizer exports from Persian Gulf states.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated a "zero-tolerance" policy toward mine-laying in the strait, warning that any vessels involved would be destroyed. He also claimed all mines had been removed or detonated, though shipping traffic remains well below pre-conflict levels despite his mid-August assertion that the strait was fully reopened.
The latest escalation follows weeks of relative calm, during which Trump paused further strikes to allow diplomatic efforts on the strait and Iran’s nuclear program to progress. However, no tangible progress has been reported in either military or diplomatic channels. Recent sanctions targeting Iranian individuals and entities have been announced, but broader measures capable of significantly constraining Tehran’s revenue streams have not been implemented.
Meantime, the Pentagon denied reports suggesting senior U.S. military leaders warned against prolonging operations in Iran, calling such claims inaccurate and poorly researched. A Washington Post report citing classified documents claimed defense officials had cautioned that large-scale operations could strain U.S. military readiness, including homeland defense capabilities, but Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the report as containing inaccuracies.
