U.S. officials stated that the U.S. military conducted strikes on Qeshm, Iran

Escalating conflict between Iran, the US, and regional powers centered on Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, military strikes across the Gulf, NATO's response, and broader diplomatic and economic fallout including sanctions, cyber warfare, and the Israel-Lebanon front. The maritime confrontation between the United States and Iran expanded alongside Iranian missile attacks elsewhere in the region. Iran said it targeted ten vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States denied that its warships were hit. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles directed towards a U.S. base, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas without reported casualties.

Since February 28, 2026, the crisis has escalated from military confrontation into a sustained disruption of one of the world's most critical energy shipping routes. Restricted traffic, higher insurance costs, and mounting pressure on oil and LNG flows had turned the standoff into a broader global shipping and market shock. Iran said it attacked two U.S. vessels and eight tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, describing the action as retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian shipping. Washington denied that American warships had been hit. The competing attacks have further reduced commercial traffic through the strait and increased the risks faced by neutral vessels and their crews.

US officials said American forces struck Iran's Qeshm Island on 2 November 2026 after Iranian surface-to-air missile activity against US assets. Iranian state media reported explosions. The operation renewed scrutiny of military escalation during diplomatic efforts, the scope of US self-defence claims and oversight of continuing hostilities.