US Drone Strike on Iran’s Larak Island Kills at Least Two, Vows Revenge
A US drone strike on Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz has killed at least two people and wounded several others, marking the first American attack on Iranian soil in a month.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force, confirmed the attack on Sunday, calling it a "terrorist aggression" that will be "punished" [231220]. State media reported that several soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the strike, though exact figures remain unclear [231290][231147]. The US military said the operation targeted two rocket launchers that were being prepared to deploy sea mines into the strategic waterway, a critical passage for global oil shipments [231182][231194].
The strike comes after the collapse of peace talks and the expiration of a 60-day ceasefire, with Washington announcing new sanctions against Tehran [231220]. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon does not rule out further "kinetic attacks" if necessary [231220].
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has vowed to respond, stating that the "aggressor" will be punished [231147]. The Guard described the attack as a "strategic and fatal mistake" and a violation of international law [231220][231107]. The strike breaks a fragile pause in fighting that began when the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, and with negotiations stalled, the region remains on edge as the conflict enters its seventh month [231194].