US strikes Larak Island launchers; casualties reported

US forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, the first American strike in weeks, after Iranian forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines. The strikes followed recent U.S. mine-clearing of international shipping lanes and come as Washington seeks to preserve free flow of commerce through the waterway. Iran’s IRGC and state media reported casualties and vowed retaliation, while Tehran framed the attack as aggression by the US-Zionist enemy. Iran had warned of consequences amid broader sanctions pressure as part of a six-month conflict that has included strikes on Iran and responses in the Gulf. Western outlets say the Strait remains a critical chokepoint for oil and gas transit, though mine-clearing has reduced immediate threats. The incident continues to draw international attention with divergent narratives from Tehran and Washington.