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American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday after observing Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) troops preparing to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said, hours after a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile in the same waterway.
The strikes mark the latest flashpoint in the vital shipping corridor, which handles a significant share of the world's seaborne oil trade and has become a focal point of tension between Washington and Tehran.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said Sunday that a tanker had been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting inbound through the Strait of Hormuz, 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) north of Oman's Khasab. The agency said it received a delayed report of the incident on Saturday.
"A tanker has been struck by an unknown projectile whilst transiting inbound in the Strait of Hormuz," UKMTO said in a warning notice, citing military authorities as its source.
No casualties or environmental damage were reported, according to the agency. Authorities are investigating the incident, and UKMTO has advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity.
Later Sunday, a U.S. official told Axios that American forces had struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island after IRGC forces were seen preparing to fire rockets fitted with sea mines into the strait.
"Earlier today U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island," the official said, adding that IRGC forces "were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into Strait of Hormuz."
No further details on casualties or damage from the strike were immediately available.
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