US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island in Defensive Operation, Officials Confirm
The United States military conducted limited strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, a move three officials described as a defensive action intended to protect American assets in the region. According to one official, the operation was a direct response to Iran firing upon a US aircraft. While the strikes prompted reports of several explosions, officials noted this was not the large-scale combat operation previously contemplated, and such actions have occasionally been conducted in secret. According to it does not appear to be the kind of major combat operation that officials have been contemplating, and the Wall Street Journal, which first revealed the operation,, Other such strikes have been carried out previously in secret.
Another official clarified that the engagement served as a defensive measure against Iranian use of surface-to-air missiles. Sources familiar with the matter stated that the administration deliberately kept the attack low-profile to avoid overstating its defensive nature. This comes as state-affiliated media in Iran reported explosions across Qeshm Island, Hengam Island, and the port city of Bandar Abbas, all located near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Qeshm Island remains central to Iran’s efforts to exert control over the waterway, which facilitated the daily transit of approximately 20 million barrels of oil prior to the outbreak of the war. Despite the renewed friction, President Donald Trump expressed on social media that a diplomatic agreement remains possible. During a television appearance, Trump did not specifically discuss the Qeshm operation but reiterated his capability to neutralize Iranian nuclear infrastructure, such as the site at Pickaxe Mountain, within an hour if necessary. Qeshm Island, which is about 14 miles from Bandar Abbas, is key to Iran’s continued attempts to assert control over traffic through the waterway critical to global energy supplies, through which about 20 million barrels of oil passed every day before the war. According to earlier this month, Trump, The US would not attack Iran before the midterms, but did not rule out or confirm if strikes would resume afterward – leaving people living in the Middle East on edge.
The President, who has repeatedly teased the possibility of strikes throughout the conflict, maintained a relatively optimistic tone regarding potential de-escalation. “We’re not fighting a war,” Trump stated, describing the current climate as a “very soft war” rather than an active, raging conflict. He suggested that an off-ramp is achievable because Iranian leadership is heavily invested in securing a deal. In the Fox interview, Trump broadly defended his decision to launch the war in Iran and suggested there had not been recent fighting.
Vice President JD Vance echoed this sentiment, confirming to reporters that both he and the President feel encouraged by the progress made in diplomatic talks. “We’ve certainly made some progress.
We’ll see if we can make some more,” Vance said, emphasizing that the administration retains both kinetic and non-kinetic options as they navigate the situation. Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned recently that any significant new attack would face consequences without geographical limitations, and security officials in Tehran have indicated potential plans to target non-oil infrastructure, including AI systems. Okay, as soon as we want, at any time we want,” he said. Well, when was the last time we fired anything.
The geopolitical tension continues to impact global markets, with oil prices climbing in early Asian trading on Tuesday following the news of the strikes. While gasoline and diesel costs are projected to be among the highest ever seen on a US Election Day, the administration’s focus remains split between maintaining a military deterrent and pursuing a negotiated end to the hostilities. This story has been updated with additional details. Alejandra Jaramillo and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.
