By Imran Malik | World Affairs Desk | MediaBites.com.pk
US forces struck Iranian launchers on Larak Island after IRGC was seen placing sea mines in Hormuz, triggering Iranian missile strikes on US bases in Jordan and the downing of a US drone.
The guns are firing again.
After weeks of relative calm in which the Trump administration focused primarily on economic pressure against Tehran, US and Iranian forces exchanged direct military attacks on Sunday and Monday for the first time since late July, dramatically escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and threatening to shatter what remained of the ceasefire framework.
What Happened — Hour by Hour
American forces struck two Iranian military launchers on Larak Island after US officials said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel were observed preparing to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors carrying approximately 20% of global oil supply.
The US military described the operation as a “limited, precise action” against minelaying forces posing an imminent threat to international shipping.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed casualties, saying soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded in what Iranian media described as a drone strike. Tehran vowed immediate retaliation.
Iran then launched ballistic missiles toward two US military bases in Jordan. Jordan’s armed forces confirmed that eight missiles entering its airspace were intercepted by its air defence systems.
In a further escalation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian media reporting the aircraft crashed into Gulf waters after being hit by air defence missiles.
Trump’s Kharg Island Claim
Late Sunday, President Trump posted on social media that Iran’s major oil export hub on Kharg Island was being “blown to smithereens,” accompanying his post with an AI-generated video.
No independent confirmation of any Kharg Island attack emerged. The White House and Pentagon did not provide further details. Iranian authorities had no immediate public response.
Kharg Island, one of Iran’s most important oil export facilities, sits hundreds of kilometres from Larak Island where the confirmed US strikes took place. The status of Trump’s claim remains unverified.
What This Means for Pakistan and Oil Prices
For Pakistan, which imports the majority of its oil through Gulf shipping lanes, any escalation in Hormuz tensions translates directly into higher fuel prices and foreign exchange pressure. Brent crude had already risen above $90 a barrel on Hormuz uncertainty. Further military escalation will push that number higher.
Pakistan’s 2.5 million Gulf workers and the billions in annual remittances they send home are also directly exposed to any broader regional conflict that disrupts Gulf economies.
