A US official told Axios that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces fired a surface-to-air missile from Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz at a US military aircraft on Monday evening, November 2. A US fighter jet subsequently destroyed the missile launcher in self-defence. Axios reporter Barak Ravid quoted the official as stressing that the US response was purely a “defensive” action following Iran’s initial launch and did not signal a resumption of broader military operations against Iran or the start of a new round of tensions.

Reuters also cited US officials as confirming that the US military targeted positions on Qeshm Island on Monday night. One official described the operation as “limited”, saying it was intended to counter Iranian forces’ use of surface-to-air missiles against US assets and personnel. NewsNation, citing a US official, reported that Iranian radar facilities and missile launch sites were targeted in the strike. However, US Central Command had not responded to media requests for comment at the time the reports were published.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal cited US officials as saying that the strike on Qeshm was part of a series of limited, unannounced military operations conducted by Washington against Iranian positions in recent weeks. The officials said the strikes were aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US administration deliberately refrained from publicly announcing them to avoid creating the impression that it intended to restart a broader war against Iran.

Iranian officials have yet to comment formally on the attack or any potential damage or casualties. However, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, reported on Monday evening that several explosions had been heard on Qeshm Island and cited local witnesses as saying that two aircraft had also been seen over the island. In separate reports, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have shot down several US drones in the Strait of Hormuz. The claim has not been independently verified, and it remains unclear whether it was connected to Monday evening’s strike.

The confrontation came ahead of the US congressional midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, and amid continuing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement between Tehran and Washington. US President Donald Trump, who said a day before the incident that the Iranians wanted a deal, answered “no” when asked whether further strikes could take place after the elections. Vice President JD Vance also said on Monday that progress had been made in talks between the two sides.