US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island amid Strait of Hormuz tensions: Report
The reported attack follows claims by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that they shot down US drones, as Donald Trump plays down the prospect of fresh military action
The United States struck Iran's Qeshm Island, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing US officials.
The reporting follows several explosions on the island, which is situated on the Strait of Hormuz, according to state media outlet IRNA. The news agency reported that five explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, with additional blasts also reported in the nearby port city of Bandar Lengeh. The agency further said that residents on the island had noticed two aircraft flying overhead.
The reports surfaced amid heightened tensions following claims by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force that it had shot down three US drones near the Strait of Hormuz, including what it described as the 55th MQ-9 military drone.
Also read | Will US mid-term results dictate Trump’s move to resume Iran war?
According to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, the IRGC also claimed that two US MQM-170 reconnaissance drones were intercepted south of Qeshm Island using electronic warfare technology. The alleged interceptions brought the total number of captured drones of this model to four, the broadcaster reported.
The US attack was the latest in a series of limited strikes carried out by Washington in recent weeks, the Wall Street Journal said. It added that strikes have been carried out on a smaller scale and purposefully kept secret so as not to signal any intent of resuming its major military campaign against Iran.
The US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The reported attack came after US President Donald Trump on Monday said oil prices were plunging on expectations that a wider war with Iran could be avoided.
In a post on Truth Social earlier in the day, the President claimed oil prices had fallen by nearly $10 a barrel, calling it a record drop, and said Tehran wanted a settlement quickly.
Also on Monday, Trump had also played down the prospect of fresh military action against Iran. Asked by reporters whether he was considering strikes after Tuesday’s US midterm elections, he replied, “no."