US launches strike on Iran's Qeshm Island, WSJ reports

The United States carried out a strike on Iran's Qeshm Island on November 2, 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported citing U.S. officials. The strike followed a series of explosions on the island that state media IRNA said were linked to the ongoing conflict. Qeshm lies on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that sees much of the world’s oil traffic. Washington has in recent weeks launched a handful of limited strikes, and has kept them low‑key to avoid signalling a return to a full‑scale campaign against Tehran. The U.S. Central Command did not comment when approached for a statement. On the same day, President Donald Trump said doubts about a renewed US‑Iran strike were justified and hinted that a diplomatic deal could be possible. When reporters asked if he would order another strike after the upcoming mid‑term elections, Trump replied “no.” The United States and Iran have been in a state of war since February 28, and the Qeshm attack marks the latest escalation in that conflict. ## Context The Qeshm strike underscores how the United States is using small, covert attacks to apply pressure while trying to avoid a broader war. The island’s position near the Hormuz chokepoint makes any military action there particularly sensitive for global trade.