US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island in quiet defensive operation

US forces conducted a limited military operation on Iran's Qeshm Island overnight, according to three American officials. The strikes were defensive, aimed at protecting US assets and facilities in the region. The operation was a response to Iranian ground-to-air missile fire against a US aircraft. Officials said it was not a large-scale action, and similar strikes have occurred before without public disclosure. The US government deliberately kept the attack quiet to avoid amplifying the defensive measure. The strikes occurred as President Trump and Vice President Vance signaled possible diplomatic progress with Tehran. Qeshm Island, located near the Strait of Hormuz, is strategically vital for Iran's control of the waterway, through which about 20 million barrels of oil passed daily before the war.