Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Trump said the US hit an Iranian air defense site on Nov 6 as Iranian media reported two blasts on Qeshm Island; no damage count is out, and a new US security alert followed Nov 7.
President Trump said the US military carried out new limited strikes on an Iranian air defense system on Friday, November 6. He called the action "minor" and said US forces knocked out an anti-aircraft device "in about 15 minutes, maybe five," the Associated Press reported. Iranian state media reported two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz. Tasnim said early reports pointed to two missiles, with no official damage information. Neither side has released a damage or casualty count as of Saturday morning.
This is at least the second US strike on Qeshm this week. US officials, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, called the November 2 strikes defensive and said Iranian forces had fired a surface-to-air missile at an American aircraft. Drop Site News reported a wider picture from the ground. Citing Iranian officials and witnesses, it counted at least three strikes in Iran's southern waters from October 30 to November 2, including a drone strike that wounded four fishermen near Qeshm. A local official told Drop Site the November 2 target was an air defense post not yet in service, a claim it could not verify. Drop Site did not report any US acknowledgment of the October 30 and 31 attacks.
On Saturday, November 7, the US Virtual Embassy Tehran issued a security alert for Americans across the Middle East. It cites the threat of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthis and Iranian efforts to target US officials in the region. The alert warns of flight cancellations and airspace closures. It also tells Americans in Iran to leave now.
Shipping is still taking hits. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion at the waterline of a tanker leaving the strait near Oman on November 6, and the crew was safe. Velos Tankers said one seafarer died after a suspected missile attack on the MT Velos Sapphire, Reuters reported. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed more tankers hit mines, but maritime officials have not confirmed those claims, CBS News said.
For an American household, the alert matters most if you or your family plan to travel in the region this holiday season. Enroll each traveler in the State Department's STEP program and check flight status directly with the airline. Keep a charged phone with emergency numbers saved. The alert also advises staying away from windows and glass doors during an aerial attack, the same habit that applies in any Iran retaliation threat scenario. Conflicting strike reports will keep coming, and identifying misinformation starts with waiting for a second source before you act.
At the pump, the news is softer for now. GasBuddy put the national average at $4.06 a gallon on November 6 and expects it to dip below $4 next week, though that figure will move with every headline. Trouble in the Strait of Hormuz reaches US prices quickly. A calm week is a good time to top off and set aside a small fuel buffer before the next gas shortage.
Where it stands now: Iran is reviewing proposals from Qatar, according to two Middle East officials cited by AP, and Trump said, "We are talking to Iran." Iran still ties any deal to ending the US blockade of its ports and lifting sanctions. Expect these details to change quickly. Review your family emergency plan so everyone knows how you will check in if travel goes sideways. Be Prepared Not Scared!
