⚡️🇺🇸🇮🇷💣 – The Iranian launchers struck yesterday in Larak Island were equipped with rare mine-deploying rockets, according to The War Zone, a capability that could give Iran the ability of more easily shutting down the Strait at the worst possible time.

It is not known whether U.S. CENTCOM had already seen Iran use this capability, or just how much Iranian forces have adopted it, but it is known that the missile systems are likely a variant of the Fajr-5 equipped with a mine warhead.

The Center for International and Maritime Security put it best in a report made last year:

While the Fajr-5’s estimated payload capacity is light compared to U.S. or Chinese naval mines, the mines the rockets could deliver are still heavier than diver-delivered limpet mines and could conceivably disable a ship if struck by enough mines from the field.

Most importantly, this field could be delivered rapidly and with little warning. Even though the explosive capacity of this mine individually is small, the psychological impact from inflicting minor damage on a small number of merchants could still be enough to force shipping companies to avoid the area.

@GeoPWatch