US Acknowledges Carrying Out Strikes on Qeshm Island, Iran
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the United States executed a targeted military strike on Qeshm Island in southern Iran. President Trump confirmed the operation, stating that the United States carried out a small-scale action to eliminate a newly established defense capability. ‘Iran was setting up a small air defense system there, and it took the United States about fifteen minutes to destroy it,’ Mr. Trump explained when asked by journalists regarding American involvement in the southern regional strike.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that two missiles struck the island on Saturday. In contrast, state-run news agency IRNA cited local eyewitnesses who heard aircraft before two objects hit the Suza area. Following the explosions, Iranian state media announced that defense forces shot down an American MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island. This marked the second reported incident in two days, following earlier claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that an MQ-1 drone was destroyed near the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation comes while Qatar continues active mediation efforts to establish a truce between Washington and Tehran and prevent further regional escalation. Addressing reports of stalled negotiations, the Qatari International Media Office issued a formal clarification rejecting claims that discussions had collapsed. The statement emphasized that Qatar’s PM confirmed both parties are actively working toward a deal and are maintaining close coordination with American and Iranian officials to advance diplomatic progress.
Iranian authorities have not yet released official details on the full extent of the strike’s damage. As diplomatic channels remain open through Doha’s ongoing coordination, military tensions near the strategic Strait of Hormuz continue to test the stability of the ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Both nations maintain opposing narratives regarding the military exchanges, with Washington highlighting its rapid defensive action and Tehran asserting its counter-drone capabilities.
Source: Reuters, Al Jazeera
