US carries out 'defensive' strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz

WASHINGTON - The US carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official said on Monday.

The strikes, earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal, appeared to be limited and were not a resumption of major combat operations, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Another official said the strikes were defensive measures against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.

The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East. CENTCOM did not respond to requests for comment.

Earlier on Monday, Iranian state media outlet IRNA reported that there were several explosions on Qeshm Island.

The Journal reported that the attack was the latest in a series of strikes carried out by Washington in recent weeks.

Fox News, citing officials, said the strikes were defensive and carried out in response to Iran firing at a US aircraft.

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump hinted at renewing attacks on Iran after the US midterm elections on Tuesday. But after a speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday, he indicated he might be thinking otherwise.

- Phil Stewart, Steve Holland and Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Christian Martinez, Donna Bryson and Thomas Derpinghaus/Reuters