U.S. Strikes Hit Iranian Islands in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States carried out missile strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Gulf of Oman, hitting several locations that were identified by local authorities as American targets. The attacks are part of a broader escalation between Washington and Tehran following incidents involving U.S. naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

In parallel, U.S. forces struck the disputed islands of Abu Musa and Greater Tunb (with Lesser Tunb also under Iranian control). Iran uses these islands as bases for the Revolutionary Guard, stationing fast boats, missiles and air‑defence systems that have been used to harass commercial shipping through the strait, a chokepoint for roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas flow.

The heightened fighting threatens maritime traffic; the International Maritime Organization has warned that about 1,500 vessels and 20,000 crew members are effectively trapped in the Gulf. Regional actors such as Kuwait have repelled drone attacks they attribute to Iran, while Pakistan has called for calm.

The strikes underscore the strategic importance of the islands and raise the risk of further disruption to global energy shipments.