India, Aug. 31 -- The war in the Middle East has entered another dangerous phase after American forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran's IRGC to launch retaliatory attacks against US military bases in Jordan. The exchange marks the first publicly acknowledged US military strikes against Iran in weeks and comes as Washington simultaneously increases economic pressure on Tehran.

US officials said the Larak launchers were preparing to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington described as an imminent threat to shipping. Iran, however, condemned the attack and vowed retaliation. The IRGC later said it targeted US facilities at the King Hussein and Al-Azraq airba...