After weeks of relative calm, the US military on Sunday attacked Iran's rocket launcher preparing to drop mines into the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces are preparing to use rockets to drop mines into the strait. The US military said last week that it has completed clearing mines along the strait shipping line. The Strait of Hormuz was once an international waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas was transported. “The US military is closely monitoring the region and is ready to protect the free flow of commerce on this important waterway,” Hawkins said. This is the first time in over a month that the US has taken military action against Iran. US President Donald Trump previously turned to pressure actions to try to squeeze Iran's economy. The last time the US fired a missile at an Iranian target was at the end of July. Since then, the Trump administration has been planning to launch an economic pressure operation to squeeze Iran's economy and force it back to the negotiating table.

After weeks of relative calm, the US military on Sunday attacked Iran's rocket launcher preparing to drop mines into the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces are preparing to use rockets to drop mines into the strait. The US military said last week that it has completed clearing mines along the strait shipping line. The Strait of Hormuz was once an international waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas was transported. “The US military is closely monitoring the region and is ready to protect the free flow of commerce on this important waterway,” Hawkins said. This is the first time in over a month that the US has taken military action against Iran. US President Donald Trump previously turned to pressure actions to try to squeeze Iran's economy. The last time the US fired a missile at an Iranian target was at the end of July. Since then, the Trump administration has been planning to launch an economic pressure operation to squeeze Iran's economy and force it back to the negotiating table.