U.S. Military Targets Iranian Missile Sites in Strategic Strait

The U.S. military launched an attack on Iranian cruise missile storage and launch sites located on Greater Tunb, a small island in the Strait of Hormuz. This area has long been contested in a territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

On July 15, 2026, U.S. forces targeted a key region of this conflict. Greater Tunb is part of several islands that Iran utilizes to exert control over maritime traffic in the Persian Gulf. These islands allow Iran to monitor the narrow shipping lanes using drones, anti-ship missiles, and fast-attack speedboats.

Apart from its strategic military value, Greater Tunb holds significant historical and political meaning for Iran. Iranian forces took control of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa from the UAE in 1971. This takeover is still a contentious issue as the UAE considers the islands “occupied.” The Emirates argue that since the 18th century, the islands were possessions of the Qasimi tribe, which became part of the UAE upon its formation in 1971.

The UAE has attempted negotiations with Iran and appealed to the International Court of Justice but has not achieved any breakthroughs. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps maintains a presence on Greater Tunb, although the number of permanent residents remains uncertain. In 2023, Iran began initiatives to increase the population on the islands and held military exercises to reinforce control.

The attack on Wednesday is part of a series of U.S. military actions in the Persian Gulf amid ongoing tensions with Iran. Former President Trump had threatened operations against Kharg Island, Iran’s largest oil terminal, which is roughly 400 miles from the Strait of Hormuz.