US strikes Iranian rocket launchers in first attack since late July

The U.S. military struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Sunday, marking its first attack on the Middle Eastern country in more than a month, with Iran reportedly retaliating later in the day.

American forces struck the two launchers on Larak Island, after they observed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces “preparing to launch rockets with sea mines” into the Strait of Hormuz, per U.S. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command (Centcom).

“Last week, Centcom completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes,” Hawkins told The Hill. “U.S. forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway.”

Centcom wrote later Sunday on the social platform X that U.S. forces took “limited, precise action” against IRGC minelaying forces posing an “imminent threat” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Larak Island is located off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran, and is near the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this week, Centcom Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said his forces cleared all Iranian sea mines along internationally recognized transit routes in the key waterway.

“The circumstances were challenging and dangerous to say the least, but we got the job done,” Cooper said in a video message posted to social media. “Bottom line, today, international shipping lanes are open and momentum is building.”

The laying of sea mines and other restrictions were part of a campaign by the IRGC to restrict shipping in the strait, a campaign that is still ongoing.

Those restrictions knocked back the global oil trade, with gas prices in the U.S. at an average of roughly $4.07 per gallon as of Sunday, per AAA . Two days before the U.S. and Israel launched the Iran conflict, gas cost $2.98 per gallon.

Iranian and Omani officials held talks this week on setting up a temporary corridor for commercial vessels to pass through the strait, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi saying he was “hopeful” the two sides will announce the pathway “soon.”

“Future management of the Strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course, as per Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum,” al-Busaidi wrote on social media Tuesday, referencing the now-expired interim peace deal the Trump administration and Iranian officials reached in June.

“Discussions with regional partners will be conducted in support of peace and cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation,” the Omani foreign minister added.

Sunday’s strikes on Iranian targets marked the first by the U.S. since July 29 , when Centcom forces conducted airstrikes in response to the IRGC attacking an American military base in Jordan.

On Monday, the Trump administration doubled down on its economic warfare campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Among other actions, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels that “enable” the Iranian regime’s “recklessness, including illicit nuclear and missile technology procurement, cyber operations, and oil‑revenue generation networks,” according to a release .

While Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not name specific countries the U.S. is targeting for doing business with Iran, he said the administration is outlining timelines for action behind the scenes.

“We’re not going to name names. We’ve already seen some results,” Bessent told reporters Monday, noting that President Trump is “quite persuasive.”

“I would expect that very quickly, if they do not respond, then you will see the ramifications of their actions,” he added, referring to foreign countries.