US Officials Say 'Defensive' Strikes Targeted Iran's Qeshm Island

The United States carried out strikes targeting Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, describing the action as limited and defensive rather than a resumption of major combat operations.

One official said the strikes were defensive measures in response to Iran's use of surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, and U.S. Central Command did not respond to requests for comment, so there has been no on-record Pentagon confirmation.

Qeshm, Iran's largest island, sits in the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Persian Gulf and hosts Iranian military facilities. The satellite image above is an earlier NASA view of the island and does not show Monday's strikes.