Middle East Live: US strikes Iran for first time in a month

The United States carried out air strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This was the first US attack on Iran in a month. According to US Central Command, the strikes targeted two Iranian launchers that were being prepared to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military had observed Iranian Revolutionary Guards preparing to launch the rockets. The strikes occurred as tensions had been subsiding in the region, and amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict. US forces have been monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea lane.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a point of contention, with Iran effectively blocking the waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Last week, US Central Command completed clearing sea mines from the strait's international shipping routes.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Punch Nigeria, New Straits Times, Reuters Business via SCMP, South China Morning Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.