U.S. forces attacked two Iranian launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, carrying out the first publicly known American strikes inside Iran since late July, Reuters reported.

A U.S. official said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel appeared to be preparing the launchers to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The official said U.S. forces targeted both launchers before they could be used.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack killed and wounded several military personnel and civilians, according to state media. Tehran threatened retaliation. The semi-official Tasnim news agency described the operation as a U.S. drone strike.

For investors, the renewed military action raises the risk of another escalation around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. Any further disruption could push oil and shipping costs higher, benefiting some energy producers while increasing inflationary pressure and weighing on airlines, manufacturers and other fuel-sensitive industries.

President Donald Trump said last week that mines had been cleared or detonated in the strait’s international waters. He also warned that vessels attempting to deploy additional mines would be destroyed.

The strike follows several weeks of relative military stalemate. Washington has increasingly emphasized the possible use of sanctions against countries supporting Iran since the previous known U.S. attacks in late July.

The conflict began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran responded by attacking Israel and Gulf countries that host American military bases.

The six-month war, which has also included Israeli operations in Lebanon, has killed thousands and displaced millions. Eighteen U.S. service members have died in the conflict.

Fighting has also resulted in a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, the waterway handled roughly one-fifth of the oil consumed worldwide.

Rob Williams