![US Strikes Qeshm Island on Election Day as Iran Wa](https://cdn.slatesource.com/9/b/e/9be682ba-6b69-44cc-989f-f699c95fbb86.webp) # US Strikes Qeshm Island on Election Day as Iran Wa - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/us-strikes-qeshm-island-on-election-day-as-iran-wa) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Nov 3, 2026 NOW US and Iranian forces exchange fire near Qeshm Island; US officials confirm "defensive" strikes on IRGC targets; Iran says it downed two US drones; oil up ~1%; midterm votes being counted. Updated 3 Nov 2026, 07:11 Iran war: from first strikes to Qeshm28.02.2026 – 03.11.2026 28.02.2026US and Israel launch Operation Epic Fury; over 5,000 targets struck in first 38 days 28.02.2026 08.04.2026Ceasefire announced; 650 Iranian missiles fired at Israel during war phase 08.04.2026 11.04.2026Lake Lucerne summit; Iran agrees to IAEA access and 60-day road map 11.04.2026 26.10.2026Qatar delivers revised US draft to Tehran; 7-day confidence-building timeline begins 26.10.2026 30.10.2026IRGC claims 4 tankers hit mines in Strait of Hormuz; Oman rescues 25 sailors 30.10.2026 01.11.2026Trump names Pickaxe Mountain as a remaining Iranian nuclear target 01.11.2026 01.11.2026Iran FM Araghchi: Hormuz could reopen within 2 days if US meets conditions 01.11.2026 03.11.2026 06:00WSJ first reports US "defensive" strikes on Qeshm Island IRGC targets 03.11.2026 06:00 03.11.2026 06:29Guardian publishes; Qeshm explosions confirmed by Iranian state media 03.11.2026 06:29 03.11.2026IRGC says it downed two US drones south of Qeshm; destroyed one MQ-9 east of Hormuz 03.11.2026 [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/3/explosions-hit-irans-qeshm-island-as-us-media-report-us-strikes-in-hormuz?utm_source=slatesource) Days of Iran war 248 Hormuz daily transits 2 (baseline: 85) Shipping volume vs pre-war \-70% US military spending $47.1B+ Oil price move after strike report ~+1% US service members killed 23 [cnbc.com](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/03/oil-rises-after-report-of-us-strike-on-irans-qeshm-island.html?utm_source=slatesource) > This was a defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets. > > — cnbc.com > We remain optimistic about reaching a negotiated settlement with Iran. > > — cnbc.com What happens next 38% WSJ/AP report US strikes on Qeshm IRGC targets -- confirmed 06:00 UTC 3 Nov Iran state media confirms explosions on Qeshm Island -- confirmed IRGC claims two US drones downed south of Qeshm -- claimed, unverified Iran formal written response to US draft deal -- no date set US midterm results -- counting underway 3 Nov If deal -- phased Hormuz reopening; sanctions waivers; IAEA inspectors If no deal -- analysts expect high-intensity campaign from mid-November Trump to announce whether major strikes resume -- no date set [thenationalnews.com](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/11/03/us-strike-qeshm-iran-hormuz/?utm_source=slatesource) What is not confirmed: specific targets hit on Qeshm; whether Iranian SAM site was destroyed; casualty figures; whether strikes are ongoing. Drone downing claims are IRGC only, not verified by Pentagon. Trump denied any new offensive is underway. Sources: WSJ (primary, US officials), AP (US official), Al Jazeera 06:46 UTC, CNBC 06:29 UTC, Guardian 06:29 UTC, France24, Haaretz, The National News. [Al Jazeera: Explosions hit Qeshm as US media report strikes in Hormuz -- 3 Nov 2026](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/3/explosions-hit-irans-qeshm-island-as-us-media-report-us-strikes-in-hormuz?utm_source=slatesource) [CNBC: US reportedly strikes Qeshm as Vance voices optimism about a deal -- 3 Nov 2026](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/11/03/iran-us-vance-trump-strikes.html?utm_source=slatesource) [The National News: US carries out attack on Iran's Qeshm Island -- 3 Nov 2026](https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/11/03/us-strike-qeshm-iran-hormuz/?utm_source=slatesource) [ ![Qatar in Tehran as Iran War Enters Day 244](https://cdn.slatesource.com/2/8/0/280ab0c7-8799-4e1c-939e-6e05a838b7c6.webp) Qatar in Tehran as Iran War Enters Day 244By Steph ](/@steph/qatar-in-tehran-as-iran-war-enters-day-244)