US forces on Sunday struck Iranian rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz in their first military action in a month, snapping a lull in fighting. Iran swiftly retaliated for what it called a deadly attack, launching missiles at American soldiers stationed in Jordan.

Forces with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, according to Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US Central Command. The US military last week completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes.

Semiofficial news outlets in Iran reported sounds of explosions near Larak Island on the strait. The IRGC reported “the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots.”

The last time the US military confirmed targeting Iran was on July 29, when it announced a “heavy wave of strikes” on dozens of IRGC targets including coastal surveillance and defense sites. On August 1, US President Donald Trump said he would order the military to hold off on new strikes at the urging of Gulf allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Sunday’s attack was a “fatal mistake by the Trump regime during the economic war” and the enemy will pay the consequences militarily and economically, an IRGC spokesperson, Gen. Hossein Mohebi, said in a statement carried by Iranian media.

Shortly later, the IRGC said it launched an attack on the King Hussein and Al Azraq US bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles in response to the US attack on Larak Island.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. “Air defense systems intercepted eight missiles that breached the kingdom’s airspace at dawn today, Monday,” according to a statement from Jordan’s army.

The fighting came just days after the Trump administration said it would turn its focus to increasing economic pressure — rather than military action — to try to end the war with Iran. The shifting strategy centers on threats to punish any country or entity that continues to conduct business with Tehran.

The US turn to using sanctions came as the administration weighs diminished munitions stockpiles after months of war, sparking concerns that the prolonged........

© The Times of Israel