Explosions reported on Iran’s Qeshm Island amid US strikes in Hormuz

Explosions were reported on Iran’s Qeshm Island late Monday, according to Iran’s state-owned IRNA news agency. Witnesses described seeing two planes flying over the island, which is located off Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz.

The semi-official Fars news agency also reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Lengeh, coming from the direction of the sea. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, confirmed that the US military carried out the strikes.

US officials described the strikes as defensive, aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Journal. One official noted that Washington had kept the campaign quiet to avoid signaling a return to major combat operations.

The Associated Press also cited a US official who said the strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets. Reporters with Fox News and Axios said the attacks were in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) firing at a US aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

Iranian authorities and the US did not immediately comment on the strikes. Earlier on Monday, the IRGC claimed it had captured two US drones south of Qeshm and destroyed an MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.

The reported strikes occurred amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed US and Israeli attacks on Iran. US President Donald Trump suggested a deal with Iran could happen soon, while Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about negotiations.