Iran Strikes Jordan and UAE in Retaliation for Larak Island Bombing

Iran has conducted retaliatory strikes against US bases in Jordan and military assets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the recent US attack on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the first active exchange between the two nations since late July, as tensions escalate in the region.

The retaliatory attacks were carried out in response to the US' claim of having targeted and destroyed two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island. A US official told Al Jazeera Arabic that the launchers were preparing to fire missiles carrying naval mines towards the vital waterway. President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran emphasized that Iran is "not looking for war," but will "never sit still in the face of any aggression."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that the US attacks on Sunday night resulted in the death and injury of several Iranian soldiers and civilians. Iran's Fars news agency accused the US of making a "strategic and fatal mistake," suggesting that the US will face consequences in both economic and military arenas. However, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) refuted these claims, stating that the IRGC's assertion that the attack on Larak Island was an "act of aggression" was false, and that the US military had taken "limited, precise action" against IRGC minelaying forces posing an imminent threat.

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US strike on Larak Island as a "direct violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity," emphasizing that the attack caused civilian and military casualties. In response, the IRGC conducted a combined missile and drone operation targeting the King Hussein and Al Azraq US military bases in Jordan. The IRGC claimed that the strikes destroyed technical and repair infrastructure, as well as enemy fighter deployment sites, causing significant damage.

Tehran labeled the strikes on Jordan as "a legitimate exercise of self-defence" under the UN Charter. "Iranian armed forces launched retaliatory missile strikes against US military positions in Jordan, targeting bases identified as the launching ground for a Sunday night attack on Larak Island," the statement said. The IRGC also claimed that it had intercepted a long-range American MQ9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, which then fell into the Gulf.

Jordan's army confirmed that it had intercepted eight missiles fired by Iran, with air defense systems successfully intercepting the incoming missiles. Harlan Ullman, a retired US senior naval officer, described the attacks on Jordan as a "political statement," suggesting that Iran was signaling to Jordan that it is a target.

Additionally, Iran's army announced that it had launched dozens of drones at US military assets at the Al Menhad airbase in the UAE. The attack targeted locations where US forces and helicopters were stationed, with Iran claiming the action as revenge for members of the IRGC and civilians who were killed during the attack on Larak Island.

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains concerned about the potential for further escalation in the region. With global oil supply and the global economy at risk, diplomatic efforts to end the six-month-old war will likely become more pressing in the coming days and weeks.