US Strikes Larak Island as Iran Hits Bases in Jordan

The United States military conducted a strike on Larak Island in southern Iran's Hormozgan province late Sunday, killing three people and damaging property. United States Central Command stated the operation targeted two rocket launchers used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to place sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has since declared a "Zero Tolerance policy" regarding the placement of mines in the waterway and implemented "Operation Economic Outcast" to increase economic sanctions on Tehran.

In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian Army launched ballistic missile strikes against the King Hussein and Azraq airbases in Jordan and deployed explosive drones against the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the Larak Island attack as a violation of national sovereignty and the United Nations Charter, calling for the UN Security Council to hold the United States accountable.

Concurrent with the military escalation, a dispute emerged over a supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported the vessel was disabled by two sea mines, but United States Central Command characterized these reports as disinformation intended to intimidate commercial shipping, asserting that no ships have hit mines in the strait.