US officials confirm strike on Qeshm Island

US officials have confirmed that American forces struck Qeshm Island on Monday, 2 November 2026. The confirmation came after DIAR's earlier report on a series of explosions on Qeshm and in Bandar Lengeh and on Israel's Channel 12 claim that an air defence system had been targeted.

According to the officials, who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, the Qeshm strike is one of a series of limited and unannounced US strikes on Islamic Republic sites in recent weeks. The stated aim of the strikes is to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and they were not announced so that they would not be seen as a return to full-scale war. US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Qeshm, an IRGC missile and naval base

Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, hosts an underground missile complex and an IRGC naval base. According to the same officials, seizing the island had also been considered in Washington earlier. CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper briefed the White House last week, and the US has moved more missile defence systems and munitions to the region. Persian Gulf states have also been told to be ready for a short, intense operation after Tuesday's US midterm elections.

A number of Arab countries have also warned the Islamic Republic that they will respond, alone or collectively, if their infrastructure is attacked. Qatar and the UAE have held security drills, including at airports, and Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE president, said his country hopes for diplomacy but is prepared for the worst.

A strike in the middle of talks

The Qeshm strike took place alongside diplomatic efforts. Donald Trump said on Monday that a deal with the Islamic Republic is possible and JD Vance spoke of progress in the talks; at the same time, a delegation from Qatar has gone to Tehran. DIAR had earlier reported that Mojtaba Khamenei has given Pezeshkian's government authority to negotiate.

Before this confirmation, a citizen on Qeshm had reported air defences deployed 200 metres from the Payambar-e Azam hospital in Qeshm. The Islamic Republic's official news agencies spoke on Monday only of explosions being heard on the island and said nothing about military sites being hit.

The US confirmed the strike on Qeshm is part of unannounced strikes to curb IRGC attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.