US Military Conducts Defensive Strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz

Explosions struck Iran's Qeshm Island and the port city of Bandar Lengeh late on Monday, as US and Iranian media reported that the US military had conducted strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's state-owned IRNA news agency confirmed the blasts, with witnesses describing two planes flying over the island off Iran's southern coast.

The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that the strikes were defensive and aimed at limiting Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the strait. The Associated Press separately cited a US official confirming that Iranian forces using surface-to-air missiles against US assets had been targeted. Reporters with Fox News and Axios said the strikes were a direct response to the IRGC firing at a US aircraft in the strait on Monday. Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin, citing a US official, added that the incident did not mark "the start of expanded strikes by the US." One official told the Journal that Washington had deliberately kept the campaign quiet to avoid signalling a return to major combat operations.

The strikes came on the eve of US midterm elections, with President Donald Trump's Republican Party fighting to hold both the House and the Senate. Oil prices rose early Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate crude up $1.60 to $98.06 a barrel and Brent crude up $1.84 to $106.61 a barrel by 07:44 GMT.

Diplomatic efforts continued alongside the military action. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about negotiations, and Iranian officials outlined conditions for reopening the strait — including an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports — saying the plan could be put in place within two days if Washington met Tehran's terms.