U.S. Targets Iranian missile launchers near the Strait of Hormuz; Iran vows retaliation.
U.S. forces targeted Iranian missile launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, in what has been described as the first known U.S. military strike against Iran in the past month. Following the attack, Iran announced a retaliatory response, saying it had targeted two U.S. military bases in Jordan with missiles.
The U.S. government said the operation was carried out to protect trade and maritime shipping in the region, describing it as a “limited and precise” action. According to U.S. officials, Iranian forces had been observed preparing to launch rockets carrying naval mines toward the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military had previously announced that its operation to clear naval mines from the Strait of Hormuz had been completed the previous week. Washington says the latest action was carried out in response to a threat that could have endangered maritime security and commercial traffic through the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported hearing explosions near Larak Island. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said that a number of its personnel and several civilians were killed or wounded during the U.S. attack. In response, the IRGC vowed to deliver a “response and punishment.”
As these developments unfolded, the Jordanian Armed Forces announced that they had intercepted eight Iranian missiles that entered Jordanian airspace early Monday morning. Jordanian officials provided no further details about where the missiles had been launched from, their potential targets, or the extent of any damage caused by the attack.
The latest exchange of fire comes only days after the administration of Donald Trump announced that, in an effort to end the war with Iran, it would focus on applying economic pressure and tightening sanctions rather than relying on military options. Nevertheless, the recent attacks and retaliatory measures have once again heightened military tensions in the region.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
