US strikes Iranian Island in Hormuz

WASHINGTON, Nov 3: The United States launched limited strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, US media reported, as Iranian media reported five explosions in quick succession.

The reported strikes came as US voters prepared to cast their ballots in midterm elections that threaten President Donald Trump's grip on power.
The strikes, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, hit Qeshm Island, strategically located in the Hormuz waterway, a key flashpoint of the Middle East war that has upended global markets.

Unnamed US officials cited by the Journal, CNN, The New York Times and several other outlets, described the attacks as defensive in nature. The Journal said it was just the latest of several undeclared strikes.

It also said they had not been publicly announced to avoid the impression Washington intended to resume major combat operations. US Central Command did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

The US and Israel launched their war with Iran with a massive wave of strikes in late February. The conflict has been stalemated for months.

Asked if Israel was involved in the latest reported strikes, an Israeli military spokespeson told AFP, "No".�" AFP