Omid57.infoUS 'defensive' strikes on Qeshm Island on election eve – Washington: not a new round of war (3 November 2026)
By Omid57.info Editorial Desk · Published · 2 min read
Al Jazeera, CBS and Fox News on 3 November 2026: explosions on Qeshm and in Bandar Lengeh after the IRGC fired on a US aircraft; Trump says Iran wants a settlement.
On Monday evening, 2 November 2026, a few hours before voting began in the US midterm elections, several explosions were heard on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh. US media, citing US officials, report that the US military carried out a "limited, defensive" strike there.
What is being reported
CBS News cites several US officials saying American forces carried out "limited defensive strikes" on targets near the Strait of Hormuz. According to a senior military official, the strike was aimed at Qeshm and came in response to the Revolutionary Guards firing at a US aircraft. The Wall Street Journal first reported the strikes.
Fox News quotes a US official saying the strike does not signal a return to US military strikes or the start of an escalation. According to Fox, Qeshm hosts an underground missile site, a naval base and a desalination plant. Al Jazeera, citing AP, reports that the targets were forces using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.
How Iranian media describe it
According to Al Jazeera, Iranian news agencies reported several explosions in succession on Qeshm, with witnesses seeing two aircraft over the island. Explosions were also heard from the sea in Bandar Lengeh. The Revolutionary Guards claim they "captured" two US drones by electronic warfare and destroyed an MQ-9; this has not been independently confirmed. None of the three outlets has reported casualties so far.
Diplomacy continues in parallel
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran wants a settlement "as soon as possible" and that it "could happen". Asked whether he would strike Iran after the election, he said "no", according to Al Jazeera. JD Vance spoke of "good conversations" with the Iranians. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that Tehran is ready for "honest diplomacy" but warned that a response to any attack would be "more bitter and forceful than before". AP reports that Netanyahu is pushing for more strikes after the election.
Oil prices rose slightly again on Tuesday after Monday's slump: Brent gained about $1.80 to $106.60, according to Al Jazeera.
Editorial note
The strike shows how fragile the ceasefire is: while "confidence-building" is being negotiated, shots are being fired in the Gulf. Washington's "defensive" label and the Revolutionary Guards' drone claims are both one side's account and should be read with caution. The people of Qeshm and Bandar Lengeh carry the greatest risk, yet hardly appear in either account.
Sources
This article was prepared by the Omid57.info editorial desk with the help of AI tools and is reviewed after publication. Quotes are kept short; please read the full text at the original source.