IRGC Intercepts Jet Over Qeshm Island

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force shot down a hostile fighter jet over Qeshm Island in the early hours of Friday.

The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported the interception. No official statement from the Iranian government had been released by the time of the report. Residents of the island, including a correspondent for the official Islamic Republic News Agency, heard explosions and saw unidentified lights in the sky and over the water. Local sources told the agency that air defense systems on the island were activated. Unofficial sources suggested the explosions over the water could have been warning shots fired at ships violating international agreements in the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident follows a series of maritime disturbances in the same region. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a vessel transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz caught fire on Thursday. The ship was located 25 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab. A smaller ship approached the vessel and attached two explosive devices to the hull above the waterline, which then detonated. The crew reported being safe. Earlier that same day, UKMTO received a report that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while moving through the strait. The IRGC claimed that three oil tankers had caught fire after hitting mines in the waterway. The group said the vessels were attempting to pass through the unauthorized southern route of the Strait of Hormuz.

US military leaders briefed President Donald Trump on options for engaging Iran. Adm. Brad Cooper, the chief of US Central Command, led the briefing on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal first reported the meeting, citing US officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine were also present. The meeting took place one day after the military leaders met with Vice President JD Vance. Reports indicated that Vance had reached out to Iran to revive peace negotiations. Trump dismissed those reports, stating that Vance had only communicated with the Iranians regarding shortages of medical equipment.

The next steps in diplomatic and military discussions have not been publicly announced. The US and Iranian sides continue to manage communications regarding the Strait of Hormuz incident and the recent air defense activation.