US Strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Tensions Escalate Around Strait of Hormuz

The United States has carried out fresh military strikes on Iran’s strategically important Qeshm Island, raising fears of renewed escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran amid mounting tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes, conducted on Monday, November 2, 2026, reportedly targeted Iranian military installations, including missile launchers and radar systems, according to US officials cited by international media.

The operation was described by American officials as a limited defensive action intended to prevent Iranian forces from threatening US military assets and commercial vessels navigating the strategic waterway.

According to reports by Reuters and The Wall Street Journal, the strikes followed an incident in which Iranian forces allegedly fired surface-to-air missiles at an American aircraft operating in the region.

A US official also said American forces intercepted another Iranian missile launched from Qeshm Island towards commercial shipping.

The Pentagon referred enquiries about the operation to the US Central Command, which had not publicly provided details of the strikes as of Tuesday.

Iranian state media subsequently reported several explosions on Qeshm Island and in the nearby coastal city of Bandar Lengeh.

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The Iranian state news agency, IRNA, reported that the explosions occurred late Monday, with witnesses claiming to have seen aircraft flying over the island.

However, Iranian authorities had not provided a confirmed account of the extent of the damage or possible casualties.

The latest military operation comes after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have intercepted three American drones operating near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media reported that two reconnaissance drones were brought down south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare systems, while another MQ-9 drone was allegedly destroyed east of the strait.

The claims had not been independently verified, and the US military had not publicly confirmed the alleged losses.

Qeshm Island occupies a strategic position near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for crude oil and natural gas shipments.

The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, making it a critical passage for international energy supplies.

Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the strait.

Military confrontations around the area have already disrupted commercial shipping, raising concerns about the security of oil tankers and the potential consequences for global energy markets.

The latest strikes also come against the backdrop of diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began in late February 2026.

Despite the military developments, US President Donald Trump has played down the possibility of renewed large-scale fighting, suggesting that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran could be within reach.

Trump said on Monday that Iran wanted a settlement and expressed optimism that negotiations could produce an agreement.

Vice-President JD Vance also indicated that Washington believed progress was being made towards a possible negotiated settlement.

Iran, however, has maintained that any agreement must address the American naval blockade of its ports and guarantee an end to hostilities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had communicated its conditions to Washington, adding that the United States must respond to its proposals.

Iran also indicated that its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz could be implemented within two days if Washington met its conditions.

The latest strikes have nevertheless exposed the fragile nature of the diplomatic efforts, with military confrontations continuing even as both sides signal interest in negotiations.

The development has also unsettled international oil markets, with crude prices rising in early Asian trading on Tuesday following reports of the American operation.

Brent crude futures rose by 0.5 per cent to $105.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude increased by 0.5 per cent to $96.93 per barrel, according to Reuters.

Analysts warned that further military escalation around the Strait of Hormuz could increase the risk premium on oil prices and prolong disruptions to global energy supplies.

With Washington describing its latest operation as defensive and Tehran maintaining its military posture, uncertainty remains over whether diplomatic negotiations will prevent another round of direct confrontation.