American forces launched airstrikes against Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after reported missile threats against U.S. aircraft, raising concerns about renewed hostilities as diplomatic efforts continue to end the eight-month conflict.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military carried out limited airstrikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, Nov. 2, targeting military positions reportedly threatening American aircraft and other assets as the Trump administration continued negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran.
Three American officials confirmed the operation to CBS News, describing the attacks as defensive rather than the beginning of a renewed large-scale military campaign. The strikes targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island, a strategically important position near the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with international shipping routes.
Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm and Hengam islands and near the mainland port city of Bandar Abbas. American officials did not immediately disclose the number of targets struck, the weapons employed or whether Iranian military personnel were killed or injured.
According to ABC News, one U.S. official said Monday’s operation followed an Iranian attack against an American aircraft. Earlier that day, Iranian authorities claimed to have shot down two American RQ-170 reconnaissance drones, an assertion a U.S. official disputed.
Another American official told The Associated Press that the strikes targeted Iranian personnel using surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets in the strait. The official, who spoke anonymously because the operation had not been publicly announced, characterized the military action as limited.
The airstrikes were carried out one day before the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections, despite President Donald Trump’s earlier statements that American forces would not launch new attacks against Iran before voting concluded. Unlike major operations conducted earlier in the conflict, the administration did not immediately announce the latest strikes, and U.S. Central Command had not issued a detailed public account.
American officials also acknowledged that U.S. forces have conducted additional limited strikes against Iranian targets in recent weeks without public announcements. Those operations reportedly focused on reducing threats to American military assets and commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf.
The operation comes amid a conflict that began Feb. 28 with joint American and Israeli strikes against Iran. Although large-scale U.S. attacks had subsided, American forces have maintained a naval blockade intended to prevent Iranian oil shipments from reaching international markets. Thousands of U.S. personnel remain deployed near Iran, with another aircraft carrier and additional reinforcements reportedly heading to the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the conflict because approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply ordinarily passes through the waterway. Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and threats to shipping have disrupted maritime traffic, contributed to rising energy costs and complicated efforts to restore regional trade. A tanker was struck near Oman on Friday, forcing the evacuation of 25 crew members, according to The Washington Post.
Despite Monday’s military action, Washington and Tehran have continued pursuing a negotiated settlement through regional mediators. Vice President JD Vance said Monday that he and Trump remained optimistic about diplomacy following discussions with Iranian representatives.
Speaking to reporters after returning to Washington, Vance said he and the president “both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.”
Qatar has been working with both governments on proposals involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, restrictions on Iranian attacks against shipping and the possible removal of the American naval blockade. Iranian officials have indicated that the waterway could reopen within two days if Washington meets Tehran’s conditions, although major disagreements remain over sanctions, maritime control and security guarantees.
According to Al Jazeera’s Nov. 3 reporting, Iranian military officials are demanding an end to regional hostilities, the removal of economic sanctions, access to frozen Iranian assets and guarantees against future military attacks. Tehran has also called for recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, a position that would raise significant questions about international navigation rights.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, responded to the American strikes Tuesday by asserting Tehran’s right to defend itself until military attacks cease. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who has participated in negotiations, also warned that the country’s armed forces remained prepared for renewed hostilities.
“The ball is now in America’s court to prevent war,” Qalibaf said, according to Iranian state television.
The strikes also occurred amid pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for additional American military action. Regional officials familiar with recent discussions said Netanyahu urged Trump during a weekend telephone conversation to consider another sustained campaign against Iranian targets following the U.S. midterm elections.
Trump has alternated between expressing confidence in a diplomatic agreement and warning that further strikes remain possible if negotiations fail. On Monday, he suggested that Iran wanted an agreement but later indicated during a Fox News appearance that American forces might still target additional military or nuclear facilities.
The continuing conflict has imposed substantial financial costs on the United States. According to CBS News’ review of U.S. Central Command estimates, military expenditures had reached at least $47.1 billion by mid-October, including approximately $29 billion to replace expended munitions, $6.1 billion for lost equipment and $11.9 billion in additional operational expenses. Those figures exclude damage to American military installations in the region.
Monday’s airstrikes underscore the continuing risk of renewed escalation despite ongoing negotiations. While U.S. officials described the operation as a limited defensive response to threats against American assets, Iran has maintained that further attacks could jeopardize diplomatic progress and trigger additional retaliation. Neither government has announced a final agreement, leaving the future of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader military confrontation unresolved.
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