US conducts defensive strikes against Iranian 'Qeshm'

The Wall Street Journal reported the day before yesterday, citing U.S. officials, that the United States had bombed Iran’s Qeshm Island. A U.S. official said the strikes on the island “appeared limited and did not constitute a resumption of major combat operations.” Another official stated that the strikes were defensive measures against the use of Iranian surface-to-air missiles against U.S. positions, according to Reuters news agency. The American newspaper’s report came after Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, reported several explosions on the island, which is located in the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal noted that the attack was the latest in a series of limited strikes carried out by Washington in recent weeks. The newspaper added that the strikes were conducted on a narrower scale and were deliberately concealed to avoid signaling any intention to resume a major military campaign against Iran. U.S. Central Command had not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment on the matter. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump raised doubts about whether he would carry out his threat to resume military strikes against Iran, saying that reaching an agreement with Tehran was possible. When asked by journalists whether he was considering striking Iran after the midterm congressional elections, Trump replied, “No.”