China News Service, November 10 (Reporter Diao Wei) As the largest island in Iran, Qeshm Island with an area of nearly 1,500 square kilometers "guards the throat of the Strait of Hormuz". It is a strategically important military site and is known as Iran's "unsinkable aircraft carrier."
It is worth noting that in recent times, the number of reconnaissance and attacks by the US military on Qeshm Island has increased significantly.
The Tehran Times quoted an Iranian military report as saying that as of November 7, Iranian air defense forces had shot down one US-made MQ-9 and one MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island, and intercepted and seized four MQM-170 reconnaissance drones.
Foreign media analysis said that so many US military drones have frequently appeared in the airspace near Qeshm Island in recent days, and their intention may be to spy on the radar signals, deployment locations and firepower intensity of the Iranian air defense system on the island.
On November 2, local time, the US military carried out an air strike on Qeshm Island, targeting the Iraqi command and control system, coastal surveillance radar and anti-aircraft missile positions. Iranian media also confirmed that five explosions were heard in different areas of the island.
Foreign media pointed out that Qeshm Island is a limestone island, and most of its surface is covered by flat-topped low hills. The latter are mostly about two to three hundred meters above sea level, with the highest point exceeding 400 meters.
India's "First Post" stated that relying on the protection and shielding of thick rock formations, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards excavated and built many underground secret military facilities, including weapons depots, radar stations, missile launch platforms and reinforced bunkers.
The above facilities are connected and networked to form a huge "underground city". In these tunnels and caverns, Iraq stores a large number of anti-ship missiles, drones and small attack boats.
The UAE's "Gulf News" pointed out that Qeshm Island is Iran's "eyes and ears" for monitoring the Strait of Hormuz. Through multiple radar stations on the island, Iran is able to effectively monitor foreign warships and aircraft operating around the Strait of Hormuz.
For example, according to the Indian "Defense News" website, Iran's very high frequency long-range radar deployed on Qeshm Island has a detection range of 3,000 kilometers and claims to be able to detect stealth aircraft.
Perhaps because they felt threatened, the US military attacked Qeshm Island in June this year, targeting the island's warning radar and long-range air defense system.
Coincidentally, although the United States claims that the air strikes launched recently are "defensive strikes," it has repeatedly pointed the attack at Qeshm Island, which is somewhat intriguing.
According to reports, as the U.S. troop deployments are gradually in place, by the end of November, in addition to three aircraft carriers and accompanying combat ships, the U.S. military will also deploy two amphibious alert groups in the waters near Iran.
It is reported that the latter has a number of large amphibious assault ships, dock transport ships and about 5,000 US Marines. It is also equipped with "Osprey" tilt-rotor aircraft, air-cushion landing craft, attack helicopters and other sea and air equipment.
Foreign media stated that the above-mentioned personnel and equipment are enough for the United States to launch a large-scale amphibious assault operation. If it really has this intention, then the possibility of Qeshm Island becoming a target is quite high.
Al Jazeera quoted British defense scholar Krieger as saying that if the United States wants to occupy Iranian islands, the first step is to suppress and weaken the island's defenses. The weather in the Persian Gulf has become cooler since December, making it more suitable to launch a ground war.
But he also pointed out that once the US military does this, it will inevitably lead to strong retaliation from Iran, and the US military on the island may become a "living target" for Iranian missiles and drones.
