US Strikes Iran's Larak Island, Tehran Vows "Response And Punishment" - NDTV

**U.S. Airstrike Hits Iranian Rocket Launchers on Larak Island** Washington confirmed on Tuesday that U.S. warplanes struck a cluster of surface‑to‑air missile launchers on Iran’s Larak Island, a strategic outpost in the Strait of Hormuz. The strike, carried out by F‑15E fighter jets launching precision‑guided munitions, was described by the Pentagon as a “pre‑emptive defensive action” aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping that has been repeatedly targeted in the narrow waterway. Officials said the operation was limited to the military installations and caused no civilian casualties, although Iranian state media reported “significant damage” to the site.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) swiftly acknowledged the attack, confirming that the U.S. had bombed the island’s missile batteries and vowing a “response and punishment” in kind. In a televised address, IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari declared that the strike “will not go unanswered” and promised a “proportionate retaliation” against any further aggression. Tehran’s foreign ministry echoed the sentiment, warning that the United States should expect “swift and decisive” measures that could extend beyond the Strait of Hormuz, a critical conduit for global oil supplies.

The episode marks the first known U.S. military action against Iranian forces in weeks, following a series of incidents that have heightened regional tensions, including attacks on oil tankers and the downing of a U.S. drone in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. has maintained that it will protect freedom of navigation in international waters, while Iran has accused Washington of “aggressive provocation” and threatened to close the Strait if its security concerns are not addressed. Diplomatic channels remain active, but analysts caution that the escalation could push both sides closer to a broader confrontation unless a de‑escalation framework is quickly established.