Explosion heard near Iran’s Larak Island amid US strike reports

Iranian media reported that residents near Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz heard a powerful explosion on Sunday, as conflicting accounts emerged regarding a possible US drone strike on the strategically vital waterway, according to regional news outlets.

Iranian media reports

The Fars news agency said residents in the area reported hearing the sound of an explosion late Sunday, though the exact location and cause of the blast remained unclear. Tasnim news agency reported that preliminary information indicated a US drone attack had targeted a location on the island, citing unnamed sources familiar with the incident.

US military claims

US media outlets provided a different narrative, reporting that American forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island after observing that Iranian forces were preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strait. The Pentagon has not officially confirmed the strike, though defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity described the operation as a preventive measure, according to reports.

Regional context

Larak Island lies east of Qeshm Island in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and is administratively part of Hormozgan province. The waterway has remained a flashpoint since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, with Washington and Tehran trading accusations over maritime security.