At least two people have been killed and two others injured in a United States military drone attack on Larak Island, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported.
The unmanned aerial strike targeted positions on the island located in strategic coastal waters, according to reports published by news outlets in Tehran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the casualties, stating that several people were killed and wounded during the aerial bombardment. Military representatives condemned the strike on Larak Island as an aggressive act and warned that the United States would face a response for the attack.
Reports of Missile Launch Preparations
The Iranian statement followed reporting by Axios journalist Barak Ravid, who cited a senior United States official regarding American military strikes against launch installations on the island.
According to the high ranking official quoted by Ravid, military forces belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were observed preparing to launch missiles carrying naval mines toward the Strait of Hormuz.
Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
Larak Island is an Iranian island situated in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, an essential maritime gateway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Positioned off the southern coast of Iran, the strait serves as a vital shipping passage through which roughly a fifth of the world's petroleum supply travels each day.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a major branch of the armed forces of Iran, formed following the 1979 revolution to defend the nation's political establishment and territorial integrity. Operating independently from the regular Iranian army, the Guard Corps maintains its own land, naval, and air commands while directing maritime defense operations along key oil transit lanes.
Tasnim News Agency is a major semi-official news organization based in Tehran that regularly covers Iranian military, security, and government announcements. Axios is an American news website headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, known for its coverage of international diplomacy, security, and foreign affairs.
