Iran reportedly fired an anti-aircraft missile toward a U.S. F‑35 that was providing air cover for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios, citing a U.S. official. The official said the missile did not come close enough to threaten the aircraft, but Washington viewed the launch as evidence that Tehran may be rebuilding radar, air-defence and anti-ship missile capacity around the vital waterway. U.S. Central Command has reportedly presented options for periodic limited strikes against those Iranian capabilities to reduce risks to commercial tankers, U.S. naval vessels and military aircraft. The proposals were reportedly under consideration, not publicly announced as an approved operation. The episode unfolded amid a wider escalation that included U.S. strikes on Iranian launchers on Larak Island and Iran’s subsequent missile attacks on U.S. facilities in Jordan.
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