US strikes Iran's Lark Island, IRGC reports soldier casualties
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The United States struck Lark Island in southern Iran on Sunday, a US official confirmed to Al Jazeera. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attack killed and injured several soldiers and vowed retaliation. The strike is the first US attack on Iran since late July.
Key Facts
- A US official confirmed to Al Jazeera that the strikes targeted launchers set to fire rocket-propelled mines toward the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's Tasnim News Agency, citing unofficial sources, reported that two people were killed and two injured in the attack.
- The IRGC described the attack as carried out by the "American-Zionist enemy" and said it would be answered by "the sons of Islamic Iran."
- Iran's Fars News Agency reported explosions were heard near Lark Island, while the exact location and cause were initially unclear.
The Strike
The United States struck Lark Island in southern Iran on Sunday, a US official confirmed to Al Jazeera. The official said the strikes targeted launchers that were set to fire rockets carrying mines towards the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Fars News Agency reported that explosions were heard near the island, while Tasnim News Agency said a drone attack hit a site on Lark Island. Tasnim, citing unofficial sources, reported that two people were killed and two injured in the attack.
Iranian Response
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the attack by the "American-Zionist enemy" and said it resulted in the killing and injuring of several soldiers. The IRGC said the attack was an attempt by the US and Israel to "revive their negative roles and manipulate public opinion" due to their loss of reputation and internal problems in the region. "This act will be responded to by the sons of Islamic Iran and will result in punishment of the aggressor," the IRGC said in a statement. Iran has previously responded to similar US attacks by launching missiles and drones at military bases hosting US troops in neighbouring countries.
Strategic Context
The strike is the first US attack on Iran since late July and risks renewing the military confrontation as Washington shifts from a bombing campaign to a financial pressure strategy in the six-month US-Israel war on Iran. In recent weeks, the US has claimed control over the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is moving millions of barrels of oil through the waterway under military protection even as Iran blockades it. Attacks on ships in Hormuz have been reported almost daily, and Iran has maintained that the strait is closed. Sunday's strikes show that the US is still willing to use military force despite the focus on sanctions to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme and claims of control over Hormuz.
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US strikes Iran's Lark Island, IRGC reports soldier casualties
