Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Iran Retaliates After US Strike on Larak Island
The United States attacked two Iranian launchers on Larak Island.
US officials said the launchers could threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran said the attack hurt or killed soldiers and civilians.
Iran then claimed it attacked American bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates said it stopped a drone but denied that its air base was attacked.
Iran also rejected a video posted by Donald Trump about another Iranian island.
India’s leaders called for peaceful talks and safer shipping.
The reports also describe disagreements about a tanker fire and the condition of US military forces.
US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, saying they were preparing to launch rockets and sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claimed the strike killed and injured soldiers and civilians, then said it attacked US-linked bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates denied an Iranian attack on Al Minhad Air Base but said it intercepted a drone over its territorial waters.
Iran dismissed Donald Trump’s AI-generated video claiming Kharg Island was destroyed, while the United States did not confirm such a strike.
India urged dialogue, diplomacy and protection of freedom of navigation as Iran and the United States exchanged conflicting claims about attacks and maritime incidents.
- Who
- US forces, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian military forces, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Indian leaders are involved.
- What
- US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, followed by Iranian claims of attacks on US-linked bases and conflicting claims about maritime incidents.
- When
- The fighting resumed after a month-long lull; the exact date is not provided.
- Where
- Larak Island and the Strait of Hormuz, with reported incidents involving bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
- Why
- The United States said it acted to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and freedom of navigation; Iran said it was responding to US military aggression.
United States and regional partners
Iranian officials and forces
Reason for the Larak strike
United States and regional partners
CENTCOM said the launchers were being prepared to fire rockets and sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, creating a threat to civilian mariners and commercial shipping.
Iranian officials and forces
Iran condemned the strike as military aggression and said it caused deaths and injuries among soldiers and civilians.
Reported attacks on regional bases
United States and regional partners
The United Arab Emirates denied that Al Minhad Air Base was attacked, although it said an Iranian drone was intercepted over its territorial waters.
Iranian officials and forces
Iran’s military said it attacked the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan and conducted a drone attack on Al Minhad Air Base.
Kharg Island and maritime claims
United States and regional partners
The United States did not confirm Donald Trump’s video claiming Kharg Island had been destroyed, and CENTCOM rejected Iran’s claim that a tanker fire was caused by sea mines.
Iranian officials and forces
Iran called Trump’s Kharg Island video laughable and said an oil tanker caught fire after striking two sea mines while taking a non-approved route in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Initial strike
- US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island.
- US justification
- CENTCOM said the action was intended to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce.
- Iranian retaliation claim
- Iran said it attacked the King Hussein and Al Azraq bases in Jordan.
- UAE incident
- Iran claimed a drone attack on Al Minhad Air Base; the UAE denied the attack and said it intercepted an Iranian drone.
- Kharg Island claim
- Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video claiming Kharg Island was destroyed; the United States did not confirm the claim and Iran dismissed it.
- India’s position
- Narendra Modi called for dialogue, diplomacy, freedom of navigation and protection of seafarers.
- Military readiness report
- The Washington Post reported that Daryl Caudle told Pete Hegseth only about one-fourth of the US Navy’s destroyer fleet was ready to deploy.