President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States military carried out a new series of limited strikes against Iran on Friday, November 6, targeting an air defense system on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. The military action followed a series of covert U.S. strikes in the region in the lead-up to the November 3 midterm elections, raising immediate questions about transparency and regional escalation even as diplomats push for a negotiated settlement.
Strikes on Qeshm Island and the Strait of Hormuz
The latest strikes hit the Suza area of Qeshm Island, an Iranian territory spanning approximately 1,500 square kilometers in the southern province of Hormozgan. Iranian state media and news agencies reported the sound of two explosions near the city of Susa, accompanied by the sound of an aircraft flying overhead. State broadcaster IRIB also reported an Iranian army statement claiming that air defense forces intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over the island.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump described the operation as minor. They knocked out — they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,
Trump said, according to Al Jazeera, according to Aljazeera. The Friday operation follows earlier U.S. actions in the same area on Monday, which officials characterized as defensive measures after Iranian forces targeted American assets.
Moments after claiming he's not actually fighting with Iran, Trump admits America still does "minor strikes" in Iran pic.twitter.com/OqZwTLi0uj
According to U.S. officials cited by CBS News, the Monday strikes were preceded by an incident in which Revolutionary Guards fired at an American fighter jet, prompting return fire, followed later by a missile launched from Qeshm Island that threatened commercial shipping. The strait serves as a vital artery for international oil and gas shipments connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
Qeshm is Iran’s largest island and the largest in the Gulf. Located in the southern province of Hormozgan, it lies near the port city of Bandar Abbas, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Khuran waterway. Its commercial ports, Free Trade Zone, and proximity to shipping channels make it a vital point for maritime surveillance and coastal defense. During the conflict, which began with a joint U.S. and Israeli offensive on February 28, the island and surrounding areas have repeatedly been targeted. On May 31, U.S. Central Command announced strikes against radar and drone facilities on Qeshm and in Goruk on the mainland, followed by additional radar facility strikes on June 5. Iranian authorities also accused the U.S. in March of striking a desalination facility on the island, disrupting drinking water supplies.
Why does Trump keep saying nobody died during this "minor military operation" with Iran? Does he truly believe that, or did he just forget the 23 soldiers? Writer: Daniel pic.twitter.com/QzkiPV46AZ
Midterm Losses Prompt First Post-Election Military Strikes
Friday’s strikes mark the first military action authorized by Washington since the Republican Party suffered major losses in the November 3 midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance attributed the electoral setback directly to the ongoing conflict, stating following the midterm elections that the reason we lost is the war. Voter dissatisfaction with elevated fuel prices and trade disruptions stemming from maritime skirmishes heavily influenced the outcome. The conflict has roiled global markets and driven up consumer costs.
Despite the renewed military exchanges, diplomatic efforts continue to gain traction. Qatar has taken a central role in mediating talks between Washington and Tehran. Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke by phone with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, following a separate discussion between the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and President Trump regarding de-escalation efforts, according to The Guardian.
Iranian officials have maintained a dual posture of military readiness and diplomatic engagement. Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated that Tehran requires practical measures rather than verbal assurances before entering new talks. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command announced via a post on X that it is offering a reward of up to $20 million and potential relocation through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program for information regarding Iran’s nuclear program, facilities, equipment, and associated scientific personnel.
At the Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain, regional diplomats addressed the widening diplomatic stakes. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned attendees that any subsequent escalation would prove significantly more dangerous and destructive without resolving underlying disputes.
🇺🇲🇮🇷 Trump claims U. S. CONTROLS Strait of Hormuz, admits it could be an “OCCUPIER” Trump reportedly acknowledged limited U. S. strikes against Iranian air defenses near the Strait of Hormuz while defending America's military presence and naval blockade. “All we are is maybe an… pic.twitter.com/2thkZJ8EoE
Earlier coverage: US-Iran Conflict: Trump Warns of Destruction as Qeshm Island Hit
Trump on Iran: "All we are is an occupier. We control the Hormuz Strait." pic.twitter.com/MlnLn7JjU0
More on Qeshm Island
UPDATE: Trump says the US does "minor strikes" on Iran and destroyed a new anti-aircraft site on Qeshm Island 🔴 Trump said US forces struck a newly completed Iranian anti-aircraft installation on Qeshm Island, one they had watched being built for over two months: "Just a minor… pic.twitter.com/BQ93ZDWpA8
US President Donald Trump confirmed a strike against an Iranian air defense facility on Qeshm Island, saying "we hit it very well last night". More: https://t.co/OiHvSoOSKN pic.twitter.com/xGfm6f99i3
