US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island — WSJ
Photo: The US struck the Iranian island of Qeshm (Getty Images)
On November 2, the US attacked the Iranian island of Qeshm near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. This is the latest in a series of limited strikes that the Americans have been secretly carrying out against Iran for several weeks, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Unlike in previous stages of the war, Washington is not publicly announcing the attacks this time. According to one official, the campaign is being deliberately kept under wraps so as not to create the impression that the US is preparing to resume large-scale hostilities.
Some of the agency's sources describe the strikes as defensive. Their goal is to prevent Iran from attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz with impunity. On November 2, social media reported explosions on Qeshm Island.
The island is located near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. It houses a large underground missile facility, a naval base, and a major desalination plant. The US has attacked Qeshm before, and the administration has even discussed the possibility of capturing it.
On the same day, the US President downplayed the risk of a new war with Iran.
Trump told reporters that the United States had had a war with Iran and had won. He added that he did not know whether it could even be called a war, since they had not been at war for several months.
When asked if he was considering strikes against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections, Trump replied, "No." At the same time, his administration insists that the president is still weighing all options.
For several weeks, Trump has been saying that after the elections, the US could return to full-scale war. According to the WSJ, US Central Command has deployed additional missile defense systems and ammunition to the region. Gulf states have been warned that a short but intense operation could begin shortly after the election.
Last week, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, personally briefed Trump at the White House on the course of the conflict.
On November 1, Qatari mediators held another round of talks aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran. A new draft peace plan has now been presented to the parties, and another meeting is not ruled out.
At the same time, according to The Atlantic, Trump is considering resuming military operations to force Tehran back to the negotiating table. The White House is discussing various scenarios, ranging from a brief attack to a campaign lasting several weeks.
Iran is also preparing for an escalation. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ordered the military command to be ready for a return to active hostilities with the US and Israel.
