The United States has carried out fresh strikes against Iranian military targets on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first publicly known US attack on Iran since late July and raising fears of another escalation in the months-long conflict.
A US official said American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Sunday after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel were observed preparing rockets that could deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy and commercial shipping routes. US Central Command said American forces remain prepared to protect freedom of navigation through the waterway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the attack caused deaths and injuries among Iranian fighters and civilians, although it did not provide a confirmed casualty figure. Tehran condemned the strike and warned that those responsible would face retaliation.
The confrontation quickly intensified. Iran’s IRGC subsequently said it launched ballistic missiles at two US bases in Jordan, including facilities at Al Azraq and King Hussein, in retaliation for the Larak Island strike. Reports said Jordanian air defences intercepted incoming missiles.
Larak Island sits at a highly strategic point in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil and gas supplies traditionally moves. The renewed confrontation immediately affected energy markets, with oil prices rising by more than $1 a barrel amid concerns that fighting could again threaten shipping through the strait.
The latest exchange shows that despite several weeks without publicly acknowledged US strikes on Iranian territory, tensions between Washington and Tehran remain extremely fragile. Any sustained military confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz could have consequences well beyond the Middle East, particularly for global oil prices, shipping costs and energy security.
আপনার মতামত লিখুন :