Iran retaliates after first US strikes in a month

The US struck two rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday night, prompting a retaliatory missile-and-drone attack by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on two US bases in Jordan. According to The National UAE, the US action was taken after detecting preparations to fire sea mines into the waterway. The IRGC said several Iranian soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded in the US attack.

The IRGC responded with a combined missile-and-drone operation against the two US air bases in Jordan, targeting technical and maintenance infrastructure as well as locations. Jordan's army said it had intercepted eight missiles. The New Straits Times reported that the IRGC also shot down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the US strikes resulted in casualties and that their subsequent attack on Jordan was "in response to the US-Zionist aerial aggression".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, as quoted by state TV, "We are not seeking war, but we will deliver a decisive response to the aggressors". Oil prices rose on Monday morning following the exchange of strikes, with Brent up 2.24% at $90.07 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate up 1.94% at $85.02 a barrel, according to The National Business.

Brief written by urgent.news from Le Monde English, The National UAE, New Straits Times, The National Business — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.