US strikes Iranian rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz in first military action in weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. Forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz in their first military action in a month on Sunday, breaking a lull in fighting during an intermittent war that has lasted more than six months.

Key points

• Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, according to Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S.
• Semiofficial news outlets in Iran documented sounds of explosions near Larak island on the strait.
• A return to open conflict would be dangerous for the region, where Iran has targeted U.S.

What happened

Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, according to Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command. The U.S. Military last week completed clearing sea mines from the strait's international shipping routes.

Semiofficial news outlets in Iran documented sounds of explosions near Larak island on the strait. The Guard in an official note carried by Iran's state broadcaster observed "the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots."

In practice, a return to open conflict would be dangerous for the region, where Iran has targeted U.S. Military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries since the war began on Feb. 28.

The bottom line

In short, US strikes Iranian rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz in first is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.