U.S. military carries out new limited strikes on Iran, President Trump says
Outlets in this story reported U.S. strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, including what was described as a defensive or limited attack on an anti-aircraft site. President Trump said he may have to destroy more of Iran and that the public would know soon if he acts.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →Reported strikes
Al Jazeera reported that, in the run-up to the midterm elections, the United States said it had conducted “defensive strikes” on Iran’s Qeshm Island and Bandar Lengeh in the Strait of Hormuz. It also reported that Iran downed two U.S. reconnaissance drones near Qeshm Island, which it said the United States had struck earlier in the week.
The Epoch Times reported that Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, was hit by the United States, with Trump saying a day before the elections that the strikes targeted an Iranian anti-aircraft facility. A separate CNBC report said The Wall Street Journal had revealed Washington carried out limited strikes, after Trump had said he would not launch new attacks on Iran before the elections.
These accounts describe strikes that officials and news organizations have already reported. They are separate from later diplomatic exchanges over Iran’s nuclear program.
What Trump said next
CNBC quoted Trump in the Oval Office saying, “I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible but maybe I'll have to.” Hindustan Times reported a closely worded version of the same remark. Al Jazeera reported that Trump said the United States may have to “destroy” the rest of Iran and that people will “know soon enough” if he acts.
TASS reported that some of Trump’s advisers believe he has an eight-week window to carry out a new large-scale military operation against Iran, citing NBC News sources. CNBC reported that a third U.S. carrier strike group is en route to the region.
Why this matters
The sourcing describes both strikes already reported around Qeshm Island and a possible larger operation that has not been announced as a new attack. Trump said any further decision would become public soon.