US and Iran Exchange Strikes Over Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes on August 30 and 31, 2026, ending a month-long lull in a six-month conflict. The escalation began when U.S. Central Command conducted limited, precise strikes against two rocket launchers on Larak Island. The U.S. military stated the operation was necessary to eliminate an imminent threat from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which was preparing to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt global commerce.

Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at the King Hussein and Al-Azraq air bases in Jordan, as well as targets in the United Arab Emirates. While the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed heavy damage, Jordanian forces reported intercepting eight missiles, and the UAE Ministry of Defence denied that Al Minhad Air Base was hit, though it confirmed the interception of an Iranian drone. Additionally, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported shooting down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the strait.

Parallel to the kinetic strikes, the Trump administration intensified Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign of maximum economic pressure led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to isolate Iran through weekly secondary sanctions. President Donald Trump further escalated tensions by posting an AI-generated video claiming Iran's Kharg Island oil hub was destroyed, a claim dismissed as laughable by Iranian officials. The hostilities drove Brent crude oil prices above $90 per barrel and triggered volatility in global equity markets.