**WASHINGTON** — The United States and Iran exchanged fire again after American forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on U.S. military positions in Jordan and to claim operations against American assets in the United Arab Emirates.
The U.S. strikes on Sunday were the first publicly acknowledged American military action against Iran in about a month. U.S. Central Command said the operation targeted two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launchers after forces detected preparations to fire rockets and deploy sea mines into the waterway. Washington described the raid as a limited, precise action intended to protect commercial shipping.
Iran condemned the attack as aggression and vowed a response. The IRGC announced missile and drone operations against U.S. facilities in Jordan, saying the strikes were retaliation for the Larak Island raid. Iranian state media claimed significant damage to American infrastructure. Those assertions have not been independently verified.
Jordanian authorities said air-defense systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace. Officials reported no injuries at the targeted U.S. facilities. The episode is politically sensitive because Jordan has sought to avoid becoming a direct combatant while continuing to host American forces.
The UAE was also pulled into the latest exchange. Iranian forces claimed to have launched drones toward U.S. assets at Al Minhad Air Base. UAE authorities rejected the claim that the base itself was attacked. The UAE Ministry of Defence separately said it intercepted an Iranian-origin drone over territorial waters. The conflicting accounts added uncertainty as regional governments tried to keep the fighting from spreading.
The confrontation again centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy and shipping corridor. The United States said the Larak operation was meant to stop mine-laying that could threaten commercial traffic. Iran has continued to challenge U.S. military activity in and around the strait. Any prolonged disruption would affect oil prices, international shipping and fuel markets.
The exchange reversed weeks of relative calm. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is not seeking war but would respond to what it considers aggression. Officials in both capitals warned that further attacks could trigger additional retaliation.
Washington and its partners now face a dual task: protect personnel and keep shipping lanes open without widening the conflict. With U.S. and Iranian forces firing at each other again, the next military and diplomatic moves will determine whether the latest clash stays limited or expands across the region.
