Iranian state media has confirmed the identities of both people killed in a US drone strike on Larak Island, a small Iranian-controlled landmass sitting in the Strait of Hormuz. The two fatalities are Hamid Avazzadeh and Ali Fayazi, with two additional personnel reported injured in the same attack.
The strike took place on August 30, 2026, targeting what US officials described as two Iranian launchers that were actively being prepared for use. It marks the first publicly acknowledged American military action inside Iran since late July 2026, resuming a pattern of direct strikes that had paused for roughly a month.
Why the US hit Larak Island
The Pentagon’s stated rationale was preemption. According to the US government, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel on Larak Island were preparing to fire rockets designed to scatter sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz’s main shipping lanes.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most consequential chokepoints on the planet. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes through it, and a successful mining operation would have threatened commercial tanker traffic, naval vessels, and the broader architecture of global energy supply.
