Reported strikes and aircraft evacuations
Reuters cited Iranian state media reporting a U.S. strike on Qeshm Island overnight November 8–9, following recent U.S. attacks on Iranian air defenses near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
An air-defense system was reportedly targeted, but the number of strikes, targets and damage were not established. A provincial official told Fars that vital infrastructure and services were unaffected. Washington had not commented. Trump’s earlier acknowledgment concerned a separate November 6 attack on an Iranian air-defense system.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian state media said Iran’s military struck Oman’s Didamar Island, which hosts navigational equipment. An Omani coast guard official told the newspaper an explosion occurred but gave no further details.
Hindustan Times reported claims that radar, communications and navigation infrastructure was targeted; the Times of India reported footage appearing to show smoke rising from the island. The systems affected and damage remained unverified.
Iranian state TV also said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy had “disabled the enemy’s maritime navigation systems in territorial waters”, without identifying a location or establishing whether this referred to Didamar.
The Wall Street Journal separately reported that U.S. bombers and aerial refueling aircraft had been evacuated from RAF Mildenhall in Britain following a “threat from Iran”. Several weeks earlier, RAF Fairford had also been evacuated, with U.S. B-1 and B-52 bombers relocated to the United States.
Qatar continued mediating between Washington and Tehran. Claims circulated by the X account Post Open Source (@CocoPostel) that Israel caused a Tehran energy-facility fire through a cyberattack, or that Qatar specifically urged the IRGC not to retaliate, remained unverified.
Russian intelligence delegation
A senior delegation led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency, visited Israel aboard Russian military transport aircraft and met senior Israeli defense officials, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing two sources.
The purpose and subjects discussed remained unclear. Accounts differed on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport: Saturday evening or Sunday evening.
The report said the aircraft and delegation departed Monday for Abu Dhabi, where they were due to join U.S.-mediated Russian-Ukrainian negotiations scheduled for November 10–11.
Balkanweb reported the possibility that a Russian government aircraft at Ben Gurion was being used to evacuate Russian diplomats and their families, but noted that this had not been officially confirmed. Whether this concerned the same aircraft remained unresolved.
Lebanon border and Burqa operation
An Israeli citizen who crossed into Lebanon was located near the border by a UN force, handed to IDF troops, returned to Israel and transferred to police for investigation.
The IDF said forces had rushed to the Rosh Hanikra crossing following the initial report. The incident remained under review; the military stressed that crossing the border is prohibited, dangerous and illegal.
Near Burqa in the Samaria Brigade sector, the IDF said troops conducting an overnight operation Monday identified several terrorists intending to throw stones toward a highway used by Israeli vehicles.
The military said the operation aimed to thwart stone-throwing and terrorist incidents following recent stone attacks in the area. Troops opened fire to remove the danger and identified hits, according to the IDF.
Related reporting: Qeshm and Didamar strike reports; Russian intelligence delegation’s reported visit to Israel.
