US hits Qeshm Island days before midterms

US military aircraft struck targets on Qeshm Island on Monday, hours before the American midterm elections. The operation began after an alleged Iranian attempt to target an American aircraft. US forces aimed to destroy a launcher on the island. Officials said the strikes were limited and did not signal a return to major combat operations.

Two US officials told NBC News, Sky News’s US partner, that the action was taken in self-defense. They said Tehran had continued targeting maritime traffic and US assets. One official stated that US forces intercept drones and missiles directed at shipping every day. The official accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of firing at crewed and uncrewed American aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks. A third official called the strike a defensive response to Iranian use of surface-to-air missiles.

Iranian state media reported several explosions on Qeshm earlier in the day. The island sits at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. It covers approximately 1,445 square kilometers, or 558 square miles. US forces have previously struck the island during the conflict.

President Donald Trump had suggested in recent weeks that attacks on Iran might resume after the midterm elections. After speaking at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday, he signaled a shift in tone. In a post on Truth Social, Trump raised the possibility of an agreement between Washington and Tehran. He claimed oil prices had fallen by almost $10 a barrel and called the decline a record. He attributed the drop to expectations that a war with Iran would not occur. He also asserted that Tehran wanted a settlement as soon as possible.

The military campaign against Iran has shaped the election run-up. Higher oil prices linked to the war have affected the US economy. The conflict became a key topic in pre-vote discussions. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about diplomacy earlier in the week. Speaking to reporters, he said he and Trump felt positive about the prospects of reaching a negotiated settlement.

The next scheduled event is the US midterm elections, which take place on 3 November. The strikes occurred just before this date. No further military actions are currently announced.