Explosions heard on Qeshm Island as US conducts ‘defensive strikes’ against Iran in Strait of Hormuz

The US says it has conducted fresh strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, with the announcement coming on the eve of crucial midterm elections.Iranian state TV said explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, a key strategic outpost for Iran’s military in the Strait.Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that several explosions occurred in quick succession late on Monday. Witnesses told the agency that they had seen two aircraft flying over the island, which lies off Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz.Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency also reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Lengeh, saying they appeared to have come from offshore.A US official described the operation as “defensive strikes” targeting “Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets”, and suggested they represented a limited action rather than a return to full hostilities. President Donald Trump, who has been occupied for several days with last-ditch efforts to drum up voters for Tuesday’s election, had previously said the US wouldn’t launch new strikes on Iran before the midterms.One US official quoted by The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the strikes, said Washington had intentionally kept the operation low-profile to avoid giving the impression that it was resuming large-scale military operations.Qeshm Island has been struck by US forces several times during the war. More follows