On 2 November, the US military attacked the Iranian island of Qeshm, located in the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most important oil supply routes. US officials confirmed that a limited military operation had taken place, describing it as a response to a threat to American forces. Iranian state media reported a series of explosions on the island and near the port city of Bandar-e Lengeh.
- On 2 November, the US carried out limited strikes on the Iranian island of Qeshm.
- US officials described the operation as a response to a threat to US military forces.
- Iranian media reported five explosions on the island and off the coast.
- Washington has carried out other strikes in recent weeks without making any public announcements.
- Despite the military escalation, the US and Iran are continuing to maintain indirect diplomatic contacts.
The US military has attacked Iranian missile positions
According to US officials, the strikes targeted Iranian military installations linked to the use of anti-aircraft missiles in the Strait of Hormuz area.
One of Reuters’ sources described the operation as a defensive measure designed to protect US forces from Iranian missile threats.
According to CNN and ABC News, the attack was triggered by an incident in which Iranian forces opened fire on a US aircraft. Other officials clarified that the strikes were aimed at missile launchers.
The Pentagon referred journalists’ enquiries to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which had not provided an official comment at the time of the Reuters report.
US officials emphasised that the operation was limited in scope and did not signify a return to full-scale hostilities against Iran.
Five explosions were heard on the island of Qeshm
The Iranian state news agency IRNA reported five explosions on the island of Qeshm, which occurred in quick succession.
According to local residents, two aeroplanes were spotted over the island before the explosions.
The semi-official Fars news agency also reported explosions near the town of Bender-Lenge in Hormozgan Province. According to eyewitnesses, the sounds came from the direction of the sea.
At the same time, the Iranian authorities have not released any verified figures on the number of dead or injured, or on the extent of the damage to military installations.
Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had shot down two American reconnaissance drones near Qeshm Island. An American official denied this report.
The US has been carrying out covert strikes against Iran over the past few weeks
As The Wall Street Journal has discovered, the attack on Kashm was part of a series of limited operations that the US military has been carrying out against Iranian targets over the past few weeks.
Unlike in previous stages of the conflict, Washington did not publicly announce every strike. According to the publication’s sources, this approach was intended to avoid giving the impression that a new large-scale military campaign was beginning.
US officials cite limiting Iran’s ability to attack merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz as one of the objectives of the operations.
Qeshm Island is of significant military and strategic importance. It is home to Iranian naval facilities and underground missile infrastructure. US forces have already attacked the island during previous phases of the armed conflict.
The attacks took place on the eve of the US Congressional elections
The latest US attack took place less than a day before the US mid-term congressional elections, scheduled for 3 November.
President Donald Trump had previously suggested the possibility of resuming large-scale strikes against Iran following the vote. However, during a speech in Washington on 2 November, he indicated that he might reconsider these plans.
At the same time, US Vice-President J.D. Vance stated that Washington sees opportunities for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
The Iranian side has also confirmed that indirect contacts with the United States are continuing through intermediaries, notably Qatar.
According to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of the two countries are continuing to exchange proposals on resolving the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Against the backdrop of reports of fresh attacks, oil prices rose slightly on the morning of 3 November. According to Reuters, as of 03:55 GMT, Brent crude had risen to $104.80 per barrel, whilst US WTI had risen to $96.66.
