US Army soldier prepares ammunition as crisis deepens around the Strait of Hormuz

A US service member in camouflage uniform with an American flag patch on the shoulder and helmet handles ammunition near a wooden crate and military vehicle. The scene reflects the combat readiness of US forces amid strikes on Larak island and the threat of escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has already vowed a response, making the region one of the most volatile in the world.