The United States struck the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz on November 2, according to the Wall Street Journal, as part of limited military operations. Washington portrays them as defensive, intended to protect its forces alongside commercial navigation, while Tehran reports several explosions.
The United States conducted multiple strikes on Monday, November 2, against the Iranian island of Qeshm, located in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, the operation forms part of a series of limited attacks quietly executed by Washington over recent weeks, despite statements from US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential de-escalation with Tehran.
According to the Iranian press, five explosions were heard on the island, where residents reportedly spotted two aircraft. Qeshm houses a naval base alongside underground missile installations. Its position remains strategic for controlling the maritime corridor essential to global hydrocarbon trade.
The straw that breaks the camel’s back? American officials characterize the strikes as defensive. According to ABC News, they were allegedly launched in response to an Iranian attack targeting a US aircraft. Washington seeks furthermore to prevent Iranian forces from threatening commercial vessels traversing the strait. The US military command for the Middle East did not immediately react, however.
The disclosures emerge on the eve of the US mid-term elections today. After threatening to resume a major military campaign against Iran following the ballot, Donald Trump appeared to soften his rhetoric. Questioned Tuesday on potential strikes following the midterms, he replied negatively, while asserting that an agreement with Tehran remained achievable.
According to the Wall Street Journal, his administration nonetheless continues to evaluate several military options, including a broader offensive. In parallel, diplomatic discussions remain engaged through regional mediators, notably Qatar, to reach a compromise on the security of the Strait of Hormuz alongside US sanctions.
The new operation illustrates the paradox of American strategy: maintaining military pressure on Iran while keeping the door open for a diplomatic compromise.