US Strikes Iran Just Before Midterm Elections

The US has carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This happened just hours before millions of Americans went to vote in the midterm elections.

US officials called the strike ‘limited’ and ‘defensive.’

Iranian state media, IRNA, reported five explosions on the island on Monday. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) also stated that they shot down two US MQM-170 drones, which they said were for reconnaissance, south of Qeshm Island. They also brought down a US MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera.

Earlier on Monday, US President Donald Trump told reporters he was in “no rush” to increase strikes on Iran, as reported by the BBC. The strikes happened just hours after his comment. The US and Iran have been in conflict since unprovoked attacks by the US and Israel on Iran in February. Though fighting has slowed in recent weeks, the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for about 20 percent of the world's oil, remains closed due to actions by both militaries.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that on Tuesday, millions of Americans will vote for lawmakers in the US House and Senate. These elections will decide if Mr Trump’s Republican Party will continue to control the US Congress.