US Conducts First Known Strike on Iran in Weeks, Targeting Larak Island Launchers **

** US military forces have conducted an airstrike on two Iranian launchers located on Larak Island, marking the first known attack on Iran since President Donald Trump paused a renewed military campaign late last month. The action comes in response to reports that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, US Central Command spokesman Cdr Tim Hawkins confirmed the strike, stating that IRGC forces were observed in the act of preparing the rocket launches. The attack occurred as tensions between the United States and Iran have been escalating once more, following months of heightened tensions and military posturing.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that the airstrike, reportedly carried out by drones, resulted in the deaths and injuries of several individuals. The agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, did not provide further details regarding the casualties. In response to the attack, the IRGC vowed "response and punishment," suggesting a potential for further escalation in the region.

Larak Island, located just off the coast of Bandar Abbas and in the heart of the Strait of Hormuz, is a strategically important area due to its proximity to one of the world's most critical waterways for global shipping. The strait is vital for the transportation of 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, making any disruption a major concern for international markets.

The strike is particularly significant as it represents the first known US attack in Iran since late July, when President Trump halted a new military campaign against Tehran. The US Department of Defense had previously announced that it had cleared all mines from the strait's main shipping lane earlier this month.

Iranian officials, including Hossein Mohebbi, the IRGC's spokesman, have criticized the airstrike as a "strategic and fatal mistake by the Trump regime." Mohebbi warned that the "enemy will pay the consequences of this miscalculation in both the economic and military fields."

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, has also weighed in on the situation, describing President Trump's claim that all mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran had been detonated or removed as "propaganda" and a "deception."

Iran has been under increased economic pressure following the announcement of a fresh sanctions campaign by the US on August 24. The new sanctions are aimed at further isolating Tehran and expanding secondary sanctions against its allies, including China and Russia.

The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to respond by attacking Israel, US bases, and allied states in the Gulf, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to marine traffic. The conflict has now reached its six-month mark, with no signs of a de-escalation in sight.

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community is closely watching to see how Iran and the US will proceed. The airstrike on Larak Island has reignited concerns about the potential for a full-scale conflict in the region, with potentially dire consequences for global energy markets and regional stability.