The United States has carried out limited military strikes against targets on Iran’s Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz, with US officials describing the operation as defensive amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The strikes took place on Monday, November 2, according to US officials cited by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal. The operation was reportedly limited in scale and did not represent a resumption of major combat operations against Iran.
A US official told the Associated Press (AP) that the strikes targeted Iranian forces using surface-to-air missiles against American military assets. Another official described the operation as a defensive measure intended to protect US assets in the region.
The strikes followed reports of several explosions on Qeshm Island, with Iran’s state news agency IRNA reporting five explosions in rapid succession. Witnesses also reported seeing two aircraft flying over the island. Explosions were additionally reported in the coastal port city of Bandar Lengeh, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the operation, said the latest attack was part of a series of smaller-scale US strikes against Iranian targets in recent weeks. The operations had reportedly been kept largely undisclosed to avoid signalling a return to major military operations.
The US military has not publicly announced the operation, while the Pentagon referred media enquiries to US Central Command, which had not immediately responded to requests for comment.
The strikes came amid renewed diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement between Washington and Tehran and prevent a further escalation of the conflict.
US President Donald Trump had previously suggested the possibility of renewed military action against Iran following the November 3 midterm elections. However, speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said he was not considering striking Iran after the elections and indicated that an agreement with Tehran could still be reached.
“We’ve had a number of good conversations with the Iranians,” US Vice President JD Vance also said on Monday, expressing optimism about the possibility of a negotiated settlement.
The latest strikes therefore come at a sensitive moment, as diplomatic efforts continue alongside military tensions in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
