US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz

The US military has struck Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing American officials. The operation was described as defensive, aimed at preventing Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. CENTCOM has not yet confirmed the strike. Iranian agency IRNA reported at least five explosions on the island, with residents seeing two aircraft. Unlike previous conflict phases, the US did not publicly announce the attack, with one official saying Washington deliberately avoided publicity to not signal a return to full-scale hostilities. The strike follows Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claiming it shot down a US MQ-9 drone east of the strait, its 55th such claim, and intercepted two MQM-170 drones south of Qeshm. The island hosts a major underground missile complex, naval base, and desalination plant, and has been targeted by the US before.