U.S. Strikes Iranian Island Near Strait of Hormuz Before Midterms

The United States launched a military strike on Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday, one day before the U.S. midterm elections, according to The Wall Street Journal. President Donald Trump downplayed the risk of renewed war. U.S. officials described the attack as defensive, aimed at limiting Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The strike followed an incident involving a U.S. military aircraft in the region, though CENTCOM has not publicly announced the operation. Qeshm Island hosts an underground missile facility, a naval base, and a major desalination plant. The Pentagon has recently reinforced its presence in the Persian Gulf, while Trump said the U.S. had already "won the war" and declined to confirm further strikes.