Explosions Rock Iran’s Qeshm Island as US Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz
Explosions were reported on Iran’s Qeshm Island and near the port city of Bandar Lengeh on Tuesday, following reports of US military strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The incidents have sharply raised tensions in the region, which is already on edge due to ongoing disruptions to commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. Iranian state television said explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, a key military outpost for Iran situated at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The island hosts a large underground missile facility, a naval base, and a major water desalination plant, making it a significant strategic asset for Tehran.
The developments come after alleged attacks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) involving US drones and aircraft. According to one official, Washington deliberately kept the campaign quiet to avoid signalling a return to major combat operations. The US sought to downplay the significance of the strikes, stressing that they were limited and not the precursor of a much-anticipated major assault on Iran that President Donald Trump has promised after the midterm elections if the US judges Iran’s nuclear program continues as a threat to the West. The strikes occurred as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil, continued to face disruptions.
As Donald Trump faces growing pressure ahead of the US midterm elections, Iran has offered to reopen the Strait within two days if Washington lifts its naval blockade and ends military hostilities. The offer, which has not been publicly responded to by the US, underscores the high-stakes brinkmanship between the two countries. Iran’s casualty numbers have not been updated regularly, so the current death toll remains unverified. Similar military exchanges have occurred at least three times since the cessation of major hostilities, as the US and Iran jostle for control of the strait. The situation remains fluid, with global attention focused on whether the latest strikes will escalate into a broader conflict or prompt a diplomatic breakthrough.
Shimanta Das 
