Washington has reportedly been quietly bombing Iranian targets as fears of a wider conflict mount ahead of the midterm elections
The United States has carried out a series of unannounced airstrikes against Iran in recent weeks, including an attack on Qeshm Island near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Monday, the Wall Street Journal, NewsNation and Fox News have reported, citing American officials.
The strikes have been deliberately kept limited and out of the public eye to avoid signaling a return to full-scale hostilities ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, the Journal reported. Some officials described the operations as “defensive,” claiming they were intended to prevent Iran from threatening commercial shipping through the strait.
According to NewsNation, the US strikes targeted Iranian radar systems and missile launchers. A US official told Fox News that the attack came in response to Iranian forces firing at an American aircraft, insisting it did not signal a renewed military campaign.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) previously claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone east of the Strait of Hormuz and captured two MQM-170 reconnaissance drones near Qeshm. Iranian media also released footage purporting to show the drone being destroyed, although its authenticity has not been independently verified.
US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, with Iran shooting down an MQ-9 Reaper drone and US aircraft striking Iranian sites on Qeshm Island. https://t.co/CykGeTJiXG
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported five powerful explosions on Qeshm Island late Monday, citing a correspondent who said the blasts occurred in rapid succession and appeared to have struck the island itself. Residents also reported seeing two aircraft overhead.
The latest incidents come as President Donald Trump has sought to downplay the prospect of renewed fighting after the November 3 elections, despite mounting reports of preparations for a major offensive.
“We had a war with Iran. We won,” Trump told reporters Monday, insisting that Washington had not been engaged in fighting “for months.” Asked whether he was considering further strikes after the midterms, he replied “no.”
However, US officials told the Journal that Trump continues to weigh military options. Washington has reportedly warned Gulf nations to prepare for a “short and intense” campaign after the elections, while US Central Command has been reinforcing its regional missile defenses and munitions stockpiles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also reportedly pressed Trump to launch fresh attacks immediately after the vote. According to Axios, the two leaders held a “tough” phone call on Saturday, during which Trump insisted on giving diplomacy another chance before resuming major combat operations.
The latest round of indirect US-Iran negotiations in Qatar ended without a breakthrough on Sunday, although both sides have indicated that diplomatic contacts are continuing.
Iran has demanded an end to the US naval blockade, relief from sanctions and the release of frozen assets in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Washington, meanwhile, insists that any agreement must include verifiable restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Tehran remains open to diplomacy but is “more prepared than ever” to respond to renewed American aggression, adding that the prospects for peace depend entirely on Washington’s political judgment.
The US and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28, triggering months of hostilities that severely disrupted global energy markets. Although large-scale fighting has been paused, the US naval blockade has kept tensions high and oil prices elevated. Trump nevertheless claimed Monday that prices were “DROPPING LIKE A ROCK” amid hopes for peace with Iran, as WTI fell to around $96.50 per barrel and Brent to $104.
