US Strikes Iran's Qeshm Island Day Before Election: 'Defensive Measure' Against Vessel Attacks

The United States struck Iran's strategic stronghold of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on November 2 local time, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing U.S. officials.

The officials explained that the strike was a defensive measure aimed at preventing Iran from freely attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier that day, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that an oil tanker navigating off course in the eastern Strait of Hormuz had collided with a mine, causing a fire.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in the Middle East, did not make an official announcement regarding the strike and did not immediately respond to WSJ's requests for comment.

The U.S. has carried out limited airstrikes against Iran in recent weeks and has kept them unpublicized to avoid signaling any intention to resume large-scale military operations, according to an official.

Earlier, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency also reported that multiple explosions were heard near Qeshm Island.

Iranian authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the matter.

Qeshm Island is a key Iranian military outpost equipped with large underground missile bases, naval facilities, and major seawater desalination plants.

It is also densely packed with major oil and gas infrastructure.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of immediately resuming attacks targeting Iran following the midterm elections held on the 3rd.

When reporters asked him that day whether he was considering resuming attacks on Iran after the election, he briefly answered, "No."

In an interview with U.S. online media outlet Axios regarding whether attacks on Iran would resume, he said, "We're going to do something one way or the other, but there's no need to rush."

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.