US strikes Iranian island of Qeshm on eve of midterm elections

The United States launched a military strike on the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf on Monday, the eve of US midterm elections, while President Donald Trump downplayed the risk of renewed war with Iran. US officials described the attacks as defensive operations aimed at limiting Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Wall Street Journal. The strike was reportedly a response to the downing of a US military aircraft in the region, though CENTCOM did not publicly announce the operation. Qeshm, located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, hosts an underground missile facility, a naval base, and a major desalination station. Trump stated Monday that the US had "already won the war against Iran" and dismissed the significance of potential renewed fighting, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed "very intense" discussions with the US through mediators.