Iran, U.S. exchange strikes in Hormuz Strait
U.S. forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, prompting retaliatory missile fire from Iran's Revolutionary Guards at bases in Jordan and the
Iran and the United States exchanged military strikes over the weekend for the first time in a month. U.S. forces attacked two Iranian rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island, which were attempting to disperse sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins.
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it fired at air bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Jordan's armed forces claimed to have intercepted and destroyed eight missiles. The UAE's Defense Ministry denied Iranian reports that its Al Minhad Air Base had been targeted by missiles, though it earlier confirmed intercepting an Iranian drone over its waters. These developments were reported by the New York Times, POLITICO, Reuters, and the Associated Press.
Conflict Monitor Details Civilian Toll
A review by the conflict monitor Airwars, released today, examined the initial U.S. strikes on Iran in February. It found that Lockheed Martin's Precision Strike Missile sprayed pellets that killed civilians up to 164 feet away and damaged property around 500 feet away. Iranian officials stated the blasts killed at least 21 civilians, including seven children.
U.S. Military Leaders Voice Sustainability Concerns
Several U.S. military leaders have privately advised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable. Sources told the Washington Post this risks weakening the U.S. ability to respond to threats elsewhere. These warnings were reportedly contained in the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defense Orders Book, which outlines the global availability of U.S. warships, aircraft, personnel, and weapons systems.
Treasury Announces New Sanctions Focus
On Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the department would propose a rule prohibiting U.S. banks from facilitating transactions in the UAE-based branches of Banque Misr, one of Egypt's largest banks. In an interview with Reuters, Bessent said the department is likely to unveil new secondary sanctions weekly, with an initial focus on banks. He separately told AP News that the administration also plans to impose sanctions on another, unnamed bank.
Regional and Global Ripples
In related developments, Israel's Shin Bet security agency said it urgently evacuated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's oldest son from the United States due to an unspecified threat. Meanwhile, multiple Israeli airstrikes over the weekend in the West Bank and Gaza killed ten people, including a three-year-old child, according to reports from Reuters and the AP. In the occupied West Bank, dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked homes in Qusra and Jalud. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the attacks, blaming a 'handful of rioters.' For more details on regional tensions, see our standings and injuries pages.
In Ukraine, a Russian strike on an ammunition depot in the Kyiv region on Friday caused an explosion that killed at least 37 people, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. A Ukrainian missile attack on the Russian city of Belgorod yesterday killed two people and injured 16, according to local officials. For further analysis on global conflict data, visit our stats page.
