U.S. forces struck Iranian missile launchers in the Strait of Hormuz on August 30, 2026, the first publicly acknowledged attack on Iranian forces in nearly a month.

The United States has imposed a naval blockade on Iran as part of a strategy to apply economic pressure, while Iranian forces were preparing to launch rockets from Larak Island that could have dispersed sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for Central Command, said the strike followed the clearance of lingering mines from shipping routes last week. He added that U.S. forces remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through the waterway. President Donald Trump posted on social media that any ship or boat placing new mines would be immediately and systematically destroyed. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps statement said the attack would result in punishment for the aggressor, according to the Associated Press.

The strike follows a series of U.S. airstrikes after an Iranian attack in Jordan killed three American soldiers in July. Since late February, the U.S. has deployed numerous aircraft, warships and personnel to the Middle East. Military leaders have warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the sustained pace of operations is unsustainable and could weaken capabilities to address threats at home. Maj. Gen. Brandon R. Tegtmeier, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, said in a letter to families that the division would support any Iranian ground assault ordered by President Trump and that it has provided artillery, engineering and air‑defense personnel. The letter acknowledged the strain of a one‑year deployment.