The United States has carried out a new attack on Qeshm Island in Iran, according to reports from Al-Qahera News and the Wall Street Journal. The strike is part of a series of limited attacks that Washington has secretly conducted against Iran over the past few weeks. This development comes as US President Donald Trump spoke about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran.
The attack follows Trump's comments downplaying the likelihood of returning to war with Iran after the midterm elections. The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that several explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, but the causes were unclear. Trump told reporters on Monday that the US had "won" a war with Iran, but did not consider it a traditional war since there had been no fighting for months.
According to US officials, Washington has been carrying out limited strikes against Iran for several weeks. Social media posts showed explosions in the vicinity of Qeshm Island on Monday. Some officials described these attacks as defensive, aimed at preventing Iran from targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Unlike previous stages of the conflict, the US did not publicly announce these attacks.
The US campaign against Iran is being kept low-key to avoid suggesting a return to large-scale combat operations. A US official said that Washington intended to keep the campaign out of the spotlight. This comes as the midterm elections take place, with the war with Iran and its impact on gas prices and the US economy being a weakness for Republicans in their bid to retain control of Congress.
A US official told the Associated Press that the US carried out defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US targets. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said the attacks were limited and did not signal a return to full-scale combat.
The developments come just ahead of the US midterm elections, despite Trump's previous comments that the US would not strike Iran before the polls. The conflict with Iran has been a point of weakness for Republicans, with voters expressing opposition to the war. US Vice President Mike Pence said he and Trump were optimistic about the prospects of a negotiated settlement with Iran.
Qeshm Island, located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, hosts a large underground missile facility, a naval base, and a major water desalination plant. The US has targeted the island in previous conflicts and discussed the possibility of capturing it. The situation remains tense as the US midterm elections take place, with the outcome potentially influencing US foreign policy in the region.
Key points
- The US has carried out a new attack on Qeshm Island in Iran as tensions between the two nations escalate.
- The attack is part of a series of limited strikes that Washington has secretly conducted against Iran over the past few weeks.
- The developments come just ahead of the US midterm elections, with the conflict with Iran being a point of weakness for Republicans.
