New Delhi, Aug 31 (NVI) After weeks of lull, fighting erupted again in West Asia today with the US launching fresh attacks and Iran retaliating.
The American forces attacked two rocket launchers of Iran on the Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which killed two people and injured two others, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Larak Island is just offshore from the key port of Bandar Abbas and sits right on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global shipping.
Some 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to travel through before the war began.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it took “limited, precise action” after observing Iran preparing to “launch rockets and deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz”, according to its spokesperson.
Shortly afterwards, Iran said it had struck US military bases in Jordan in response.
Jordan’s army said it had intercepted eight missiles early today.
Iran’s state TV also said the Iranian army had targeted an air base in the UAE with drones.
However, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence denied the reports that Al-Minhad Air Base had been targeted as “unfounded”. The UAE did confirm it shot down a drone.
The US strike is the first known attack on Iran since President Donald Trump paused a renewed military campaign in late July.
Since the conflict began in February, the strait has effectively been closed, causing wild fluctuations in the price of oil on world markets.
Iran is currently demanding that tanker traffic pass by Larak Island for checks and reportedly forcing vessels to pay $2m (£1.5m) to cross.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency said earlier that the attack on Larak was carried out by drones.
Hours later, Iranian media carried a statement by the IRGC saying it had attacked the US bases of King Hussein and al-Azraq in Jordan with ballistic missiles in response to the Larak Island attack.
Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday it “strongly condemned the American military aggression on Larak”, saying the strikes on bases in Jordan were a “legitimate defence”.
Meanwhile Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement quoted by state TV: “We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors.”
Hours after the US strike, Trump posted apparent AI videos on Truth Social showing oil infrastructure exploding.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic.
The strait is a narrow stretch of water between Iran, the UAE and Oman that is about 21 miles (33km) at its tightest point.
Trump said last week that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran as part of its efforts to blockade the route had been detonated or removed. He said Iran had been warned that any ship or boat deploying new mines would be destroyed.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described Trump’s claim as a “propaganda” deception.
The US is also continuing a naval blockade of Iran, which has affected Iran’s ability to export oil.
On Saturday, Centcom said it had disabled three vessels, boarded two and redirected 82 as part of the blockade. (NVI)
