US Confirms Defensive Strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island Amid Rising Tensions in Strait of Hormuz
The United States has confirmed carrying out limited military strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, following multiple explosions on Qeshm Island and reports of blasts near the coastal port city of Bandar Lengeh on November 2.
A US official said the operation targeted Iranian forces using surface-to-air missiles against American assets. Other reports indicated that the strikes were also intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
Iranian state media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island, with witnesses describing aircraft flying over the area shortly before the blasts.
The strikes came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have intercepted American reconnaissance drones near the island and the Strait of Hormuz. US media also reported that the operation followed an incident involving Iranian fire directed at a US aircraft.
Washington described the action as defensive and limited, rather than the beginning of a renewed large-scale military campaign.
The developments come amid diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran. President Donald Trump has recently expressed optimism that a settlement could be reached, despite continued military tensions in the region.
The latest strikes highlight the fragile situation around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy shipping routes, where even limited military clashes could threaten regional security and global oil supplies.