QeshmIranian state media counted 5 blasts in rapid succession.
They came a day before the US midterms, as Trump said a deal could happen.
US officials call the strikes defensive, part of weeks of unannounced raids meant to limit Iran’s attacks on shipping.
Iran says Hormuz reopens only if the US ends its naval blockade first.
Polymarket traders give a US-Iran Hormuz agreement by 31 December a 39% chance, up 5 points in a week.
How each outlet framed it
drawn from 400+ reports worldwide
- Al Jazeera Online leans critical
- reports the strikes through Iranian media and IRNA witness accounts, with the explosions described as in rapid succession and the attack framed as covert
- BBC
- quotes Trump's 'no rush' and 'one hour' Pickaxe remarks, placing the Qeshm strikes beside his midterm-eve statements
- South China Morning Post leans critical
- places Qeshm in the context of a covert campaign of limited strikes and the CENTCOM briefing on added missile defences and munitions
- Prothomalo
- stresses the Journal's account that the US has kept attacks unannounced to avoid signalling a return to major combat
Sources: Al Jazeera Online, BBC, South China Morning Post, Prothomalo