US conducts fresh strikes on Iran air defences, Trump confirms

President Trump described the military action as 'minor' during remarks to journalists in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening. 'They knocked out -- they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,' Trump said.

Iranian state media reported hearing two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which lies within the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil supplies. The strikes follow similar defensive military operations conducted by the US military on Monday, when explosions were heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam as well as the mainland area of Bandar Abbas.

Friday's strikes represent the first significant military action since Trump's Republican Party faced a major electoral setback in Tuesday's midterm elections. The timing of the military operations comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear programme and regional activities.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically important waterways, with roughly one-fifth of global oil passing through the narrow passage between Iran and Oman daily. Any escalation of military activities in the region raises concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies and broader geopolitical stability in South Asia and beyond.