Amman/Tehran/Washington, 31 August (H.S.): Iran launched an attack on a US military base in Jordan after Washington carried out strikes on Larak Island in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz, marking a fresh escalation in military hostilities between the two countries. The United States carried out its first major attack on Iran in nearly a month, prompting Iranian forces to respond with missiles, rockets and drones.

The latest military confrontation is also expected to put further pressure on global oil markets because of the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for international energy shipments.

According to reports by Al Jazeera and CNN, the United States launched the strikes on Larak Island on Sunday. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted US military facilities at King Hussein and Al-Azraq in Jordan, using missiles and drones. The escalation represents the first significant intensification of violence between the two sides since late July.

The IRGC said the strikes destroyed what it described as technical and maintenance infrastructure, as well as locations where enemy fighter aircraft were deployed.

Shortly after the IRGC announced the attacks, Jordan reported intercepting eight missiles. The Jordanian military said in a statement that its air defence systems had intercepted eight missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace early Monday. No injuries were reported.

A US official said the American strikes on Larak targeted launchers that were prepared to fire rockets towards areas containing naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that several military personnel were killed and wounded in the US strikes.

In recent weeks, Washington has claimed to have maintained control of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that millions of barrels of oil have continued to pass through the waterway under US military protection despite what it describes as an Iranian blockade. Tehran, however, maintains that the waterway remains closed.

The Trump administration has said US Central Command completed operations last week to clear naval mines from the international shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump has warned that any ship or boat found laying new mines in the waterway would be destroyed immediately.

A US official said the American military was closely monitoring the area and remained prepared to ensure the uninterrupted flow of commerce through the strategically important waterway.

The latest strikes come as Iran and Oman are negotiating a proposed arrangement aimed at restoring maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Regional mediators, including Qatar, have supported the negotiations.

Iranian officials have repeatedly linked the future of navigation through the waterway to broader discussions with Washington and developments in regional security.

Sunday’s operation marked the first US attack on Iran since July 29, according to the report.

Meanwhile, oil prices rose sharply on Sunday following reports of the renewed US military action against Iran, the first such strike in more than a month.

International benchmark Brent crude rose 2.8 per cent to $90.57 a barrel, while US crude gained 2.7 per cent to reach $85.64 a barrel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar