US strikes Iran in Strait of Hormuz

On August 30, 2026, the United States conducted its first military strikes on Iran in a month, targeting two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command stated the strikes were preventive, as Revolutionary Guard forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strategic waterway. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported casualties and retaliated with ballistic missile strikes on US military targets at King Hussein and Al-Azraq airbases in Jordan, causing 'heavy damage' according to Iranian state media. The exchange occurred shortly after the US-Iran war reached its six-month mark, following an April ceasefire and a June memorandum of understanding that have not led to a final peace agreement. The Trump administration has recently prioritized 'economic warfare' against Iran, including sanctions and a naval counterblockade of Iranian ports. The conflict has disrupted global oil supplies, with Brent crude rising above $90 and WTI to $85.41 following the strikes. Diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and Qatar have so far failed to end the war.