US forces strike Iran’s Qeshm island
Washington says limited strikes on Qeshm followed Iranian fire against a US aircraft. The operation was described as an act of self-defense.
US forces carried out limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of November 2, according to American officials. The action followed an Iranian attack on a US aircraft and was taken in self-defense, Radio Svoboda reported on Tuesday, November 3.
US Central Command did not publicly announce the operation. The Wall Street Journal said the military had conducted other restricted strikes without public disclosure in recent weeks, aiming to prevent Iran from targeting commercial shipping in the strait.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported explosions in the country’s south on November 2 but offered no further information. Tehran had issued no official comment by the time the source report was published.
US officials said the strikes were kept out of public statements to avoid suggesting that a renewed large-scale conflict was inevitable. Maritime tensions remain elevated in the Strait of Hormuz, while intermediaries continue efforts toward a possible peace agreement.