US struck Iran's Qeshm Island, Wall Street Journal reports, citing US officials

The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States struck Iran's Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, on Monday, 2 November 2026. The newspaper cited unnamed US officials. Reuters, France 24, Al Jazeera, The Hindu, TASS and Anadolu relayed the report. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include independent confirmation of the strike.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported several explosions in rapid succession on Qeshm late on Monday. According to IRNA, witnesses said they saw two aircraft flying over the island.

US Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to France 24 and The Hindu. The reported strike came on the eve of the US midterm elections. The United States and Iran have been in conflict since late February 2026 (28 February, according to The Hindu).

According to the Journal, the Qeshm strike was the latest in a series of limited US strikes on Iran in recent weeks. The US has not announced them publicly, so as not to signal a return to major combat operations, the Journal reported.

Al Jazeera relayed an Associated Press report. It cited a US official as saying the US had carried out defensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz against "Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets." That report, as relayed, does not name Qeshm. According to Al Jazeera, reporters with Fox News and Axios said the attacks responded to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) firing at a US aircraft on Monday.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said explosions were also heard in the port city of Bandar Lengeh. The reports do not establish whether these are linked to Qeshm.

Oil prices fell by more than 7% on Monday on optimism about a possible end to the conflict, according to France 24. Reuters reported that prices rose in early Asian trade on Tuesday after the strike report.

The reports do not describe what was targeted on Qeshm, the extent of damage or any casualties.

What each side says

• US officials: According to the Journal, some officials called the strikes defensive, aimed at preventing Iran from attacking commercial ships. Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin cited an unnamed official as saying the incident did not mark "the start of expanded strikes by the US", according to Al Jazeera.
• Donald Trump: He wrote on Truth Social: "Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!" Asked by reporters whether he was considering striking Iran after the midterms, he replied "no", according to The Hindu.
• IRGC: It said it captured two US reconnaissance drones south of Qeshm and destroyed an MQ-9 drone east of the Strait earlier on Monday, according to Al Jazeera. This claim is not independently verified, and the reports include no US response.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry: Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran's demands had been communicated to Washington. He said Iran's plan to reopen the Strait could be implemented within two days if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports and hostilities end. "The ball is in the US court," he said, according to Al Jazeera.

Analysis

The account rests on two separate origins: unnamed US officials speaking to the Wall Street Journal, and Iranian state media reporting explosions. Neither government has confirmed a strike on the record in the reports reviewed. Public diplomatic signals from both capitals point toward a possible settlement, while the reported limited strikes suggest continued military pressure. Several paths remain plausible: quiet strikes could continue alongside talks, an incident in the Strait could escalate tensions, or negotiations over the blockade and shipping could advance. Oil markets appear sensitive to each signal. Further official statements would help clarify what happened on Qeshm.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.