The United States launched a new round of strikes on military targets across Iran overnight, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Tehran against U.S. bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan and renewed threats to shut the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil and shipping routes. The latest exchanges have heightened concerns that the conflict could again hit life in the Gulf.
In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces carried out "additional self-defence strikes" on June 10 against multiple targets in Iran at the direction of the President.
According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites that posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial shipping in regional waters.
"U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters," the statement said, adding that the attacks were in response to what it described as Iran's "continued aggression."
Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas, Minab, Varamin and Karaj, according to Iranian media reports.
The strikes mark the latest phase in a growing military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, threatening to unravel a fragile ceasefire that had largely halted major hostilities since early April.
Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks against US military facilities across the region. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted 18 US military sites, including airbases in Bahrain and Kuwait, while also launching attacks against the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry said warning sirens were activated and urged residents and citizens to move to the nearest safe location. Sirens were reported to have sounded twice during the day as regional authorities monitored the situation.
Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted hostile objects and later temporarily closed its airspace, with some flights diverted as a precaution.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Amman issued an emergency alert instructing American citizens in Jordan to seek shelter after reports of missiles, drones or rockets entering Jordanian airspace.
The IRGC claimed it had launched 12 ballistic missiles targeting locations hosting US fighter aircraft, including F-35, F-15 and F-16 jets. Iranian state media also claimed damage had been inflicted on facilities at Al-Azraq air base, although US officials have previously said earlier attacks on the base caused no significant damage and resulted in no casualties.
Iran's top military command also warned that the Strait of Hormuz would be "closed to all vessels" and threatened action against ships attempting to transit the strategic waterway. Iranian media reported that two vessels had come under fire.
However, US Central Command rejected claims that the strait had been closed, stating that commercial shipping continued to pass through the waterway despite Iranian threats.
President Trump indicated that the latest US strikes could be suspended if Iran agrees to negotiations, but warned that additional attacks could follow if no agreement is reached. According to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the military action would stop shortly but threatened much stronger strikes if Iranian leaders did not immediately sign an agreement with the United States.
In his Truth Social post, Trump claimed that last month, in a secret mission, he had directed US military to support oil tankers and commercial ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz and more than 100 million barrels o foil had made through the the chokepoint.
"Last month, I directed our Great US Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Today, I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Strait, and into the Open Market.
"More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait. This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran. Their military is defeated, and their economy is lost. It’s over for Iran!," he said.
In an earlier post, he said: "Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!"
