Satellite image of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Image: NASA, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
The United States carried out new limited strikes on Iran on Friday, 6 November 2026, targeting an Iranian air defence system on Qeshm Island, President Donald Trump confirmed. Iranian state media reported two explosions on the island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important waterways for oil shipments.
What the US targeted
Speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening, Trump said American forces had destroyed an Iranian anti-aircraft device. He described the military action as minor, saying the target was knocked out in about 15 minutes, "maybe five".
Trump gave no further details about the target. US officials have said most of Iran's air defence systems were destroyed or badly damaged during Israel's bombardment in June 2025 and in the early stages of the current conflict.
What Iran reported
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said initial reports indicated that two missiles had struck Qeshm Island, adding that there was no official information on possible damage. State news agency IRNA reported that local witnesses heard two projectiles hit the Suza area of the island after the sound of an aircraft was heard overhead.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB also reported an army statement saying the country's air defence forces intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island. US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said the situation was "relatively calm".
Strikes follow Monday's defensive action
The US military had also reported carrying out what it described as defensive strikes on Monday, 2 November. Explosions were heard then on Qeshm and Hengam islands and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
Friday's strikes were the first since Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States, in which Trump's Republican Party suffered a heavy defeat.
Talks continue despite the strikes
The strikes came even as Qatar stepped up efforts to bring Washington and Tehran closer to negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. Qatar's prime minister said the country's mediation efforts were continuing to prevent the situation in the region from spiralling out of control.
Mediators and Iranian officials have discussed a possible bridge deal involving trust-building measures before broader nuclear negotiations begin. Iran has been proposing its own seven-day plan since September, which Trump has so far rejected. The United States is also offering a $20 million reward, along with the possibility of resettlement assistance, for information related to Iran's nuclear programme.
Why Qeshm Island matters
Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, lying just off Iran's southern coast in the Strait of Hormuz. About 30 percent of the world's seaborne oil passes through the strait, so any military incident there is watched closely by energy markets around the world.
For background on how Middle East shipping risks affect energy prices, see our earlier report: Oil Prices Rise Today as Middle East Shipping Risks Grow.
What happens next
For now, both sides appear to be keeping the door to diplomacy open. Qatar says both Washington and Tehran continue to work towards an agreement, and Trump has said the United States is making progress in talks with Iran.
But the renewed strikes show how quickly the situation can escalate. Any further attacks, or a strong response from Tehran, could push the region closer to a wider conflict and send fresh shockwaves through global oil markets.
Source: Reuters, 6 November 2026
This article reflects information available at the time of writing. The situation in the region may change quickly.
Comments