The reported strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island come as tensions persist around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, with Washington describing its recent operations as defensive measures to protect commercial shipping
The United States has carried out military strikes targeting Iranian positions on Qeshm Island, a strategically important landmass in the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
The reported operation comes after Iranian state media, including the official Irna news agency, reported multiple explosions in southern Iran early Tuesday. Blasts were heard on Qeshm Island and in the coastal city of Bandar Lengeh, according to the reports.
The US military has not publicly confirmed the latest strikes. The US Central Command (Centcom) had not immediately issued an official statement.
US strikes aimed at protecting shipping in Strait of Hormuz
According to US officials cited by the Wall Street Journal, the strikes on Qeshm Island were part of a series of limited military operations carried out by Washington in recent weeks.
The officials described the operations as defensive measures intended to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway is a vital international shipping route, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The reported strikes were deliberately kept limited and low-profile to avoid signalling that Washington was preparing to resume a full-scale military campaign against Tehran, the report said.
Qeshm Island is strategically located near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, making it significant to maritime security in the region. Any escalation around the island could have wider implications for commercial shipping through the waterway.
More from United StatesTrump downplays possibility of renewed military action
The report of the strikes comes amid mixed signals from the White House about the possibility of further military action against Iran, just ahead of the US midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters earlier, President Donald Trump played down the prospect of a renewed military campaign against Tehran, while suggesting that a diplomatic agreement between the two countries remained possible.
Asked whether he was considering fresh military operations against Iran after Election Day, Trump replied, “no”.
“We had a war with Iran. We won. I don’t know if you even call it a war because we haven’t been doing any fighting for months,” he said.
Trump also indicated that a deal with Tehran could be reached, even as reports emerged of continued US military activity in the region.
