US Central Command said it carried out a limited, precision operation against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps mine-laying forces on Larak Island, alleging they posed a threat in the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the operation was intended to address what it described as an immediate danger to shipping in the waterway.

CENTCOM said Iran had created the threat and that US forces removed it to protect civilian mariners, commercial vessel traffic and the free flow of global trade. Iran had described the US strike on Larak Island as an act of aggression, a characterization CENTCOM rejected.

The Strait of Hormuz is described as one of the world's most important sea routes, carrying energy shipments that form a major part of international trade. The source said military activity or disruption to vessel movements there could have significant effects on global commerce and energy supplies. CENTCOM said its stated objective was to keep civilian sailors and commercial ships safe while ensuring uninterrupted trade flows.