U.S. Strikes Iran for Second Day, Air Defenses in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan Engage Iranian Missiles and Drones

MIDDLE EAST — U.S. forces struck targets inside Iran for a second consecutive day on Wednesday while air defenses in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan engaged Iranian missiles and drones in attacks that ran from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) began launching the latest round of strikes, which it says were carried out in self defense, at 5:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday against Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites, and attributed the strikes to Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”

Late Tuesday night, CENTCOM disabled the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello in the Gulf of Oman, the eighth vessel disabled since the naval blockade of Iranian ports began on April 13.

Kuwait’s Defense Ministry reported its air defenses engaged “hostile aerial targets” at dawn, Bahrain’s defense force stated it intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian missile and drone attacks, and Jordan’s armed forces cited they downed five missiles launched from Iran toward the Azraq area on Tuesday evening.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth tied the military pressure to a stalled nuclear agreement, and both cited oil transit volumes of about 100 million barrels moved through the Strait of Hormuz under U.S. protection.

Strikes on Iranian Surveillance, Communications, and Air Defense Sites

The new round of strikes began at 5:15 p.m. ET, with U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets firing precision munitions at the Commander in Chief’s direction, according to CENTCOM.

The command identified the targets as military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran.

CENTCOM stated, “U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction.”

A command statement added that the targets “posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.”

The strikes followed Iran’s downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter near Oman on Monday. The crew was safely returned, according to Department of War reporting. Trump told reporters U.S. forces struck back the following day.

Trump said, “We hit them hard yesterday and we’re gonna hit them again hard today. We’ll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal. But they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers.”

At MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, after meeting CENTCOM leadership on operations planned for Iran, Hegseth told reporters, “Central Command will be busy tonight because President [Donald J.] Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be.”

“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do -- and they haven’t been willing to do it.”

Settebello Disabled in Gulf of Oman, Tanker Fire Reported Near Sohar

At 11:14 p.m. on Tuesday, U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman “for the second consecutive day after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran,” according to a CENTCOM release.

A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the engine room of the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.

CENTCOM reported its forces “have disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the Royal Navy’s liaison with commercial shipping, issued two warnings on Wednesday.

• Warning 066-26, issued at 9:30 a.m. UTC, stated that a tanker caught fire 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Sohar, Oman. Local authorities said the fire was in the vessel’s engine room and were on scene assisting with crew evacuation. The vessel reported one casualty and two crew members missing, and no environmental impact was noted in the warning.

• Warning 065-26, issued at 4:30 a.m. UTC, stated a cargo vessel 88 nautical miles (163 kilometers) southwest of Balhaf, Yemen, was approached by one craft carrying six armed persons. The vessel’s armed security team exchanged fire with the craft, which turned away. Authorities are investigating both incidents.

Air Defenses Engage Iranian Missiles and Drones Over Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan

The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army reported its air defense systems were “currently intercepting hostile aerial targets in accordance with approved operational procedures,” and Kuwait’s Defense Ministry reported air defenses engaged “hostile aerial targets” at dawn on Wednesday.

Both statements included instructions for the public to follow guidance from the competent authorities and to take information from official sources.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned “the continued heinous and repeated Iranian aggressions against the State of Kuwait, the latest of which occurred today,” stating the attacks constitute “a dangerous overreach that endangers the lives of civilians and the safety of vital and residential facilities.”

The ministry stated the pattern reflects “an organized aggressive approach, a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait, a blatant breach of the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter,” and said Kuwait reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to preserve its security.

The Bahrain Defense Force General Command said Iran is continuing its hostile approach through missile and drone attacks targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a number of the Iranian aerial attacks.

The command added that all weapons and units are at the highest degrees of readiness, that the public should avoid suspicious objects from the attack remnants, and that the Royal Field Engineering Unit stands ready to handle them.

It cited the deliberate use of missiles and drones against civilians and private property as “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,” according to a translation of the Arabic-language statement.

The General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces briefed that air defense systems “intercepted and downed” five missiles launched from Iran toward the Azraq area in Zarqa Governorate on Tuesday evening.

The interception produced falling fragments “without any human injuries or material damage,” and engineering teams handled the missile remnants “to ensure no explosive materials were present inside them,” according to the translated statement. The armed forces said they will not allow any violation of Jordanian airspace by any party.

22 Governments Condemn Iranian Intelligence Operations Abroad

The U.S. State Department Office of the Spokesperson released a joint statement on Wednesday signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

The statement condemned “the lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe, North America and Australia” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO), the Quds Force, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), “including those against Iranian dissidents, journalists and Jewish and Israeli communities and interests.”

The signatories condemned a campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and U.S. interests, claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya and supported by its intermediaries, and stated they are “together resolved to undertake further measures” to halt the activity.

What to Watch

• A CENTCOM release on the strike round Hegseth said would come Wednesday night, and any battle damage assessment naming the installations struck in either round.

• A follow-up UKMTO advisory or Omani authorities statement naming the tanker that burned near Sohar, which would establish or rule out the link to the M/T Settebello.

• Kuwaiti, Bahraini, or Jordanian follow-up statements enumerating intercept counts and systems used, and any host-nation language about U.S. basing or operations from their territory.

• An official Iranian government or IRGC response to the strikes, the Gulf interceptions, or the 22-nation statement, through government channels or state media such as Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

• Commercial Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking data on Strait of Hormuz transit volumes, the public check on both the closure claim and the 100-million-barrel account.

• National-level actions by joint-statement signatories, sanctions designations, expulsions, or prosecutions naming the IRGC-IO, Quds Force, or MOIS.

Official Statements

• U.S. Central Command, statement, June 10, 2026: “U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”

• U.S. Central Command, public release, June 10, 2026: “TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces completed additional self-defense strikes against multiple targets in Iran, June 10, at the Commander in Chief’s direction. CENTCOM forces launched strikes on Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran. 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 strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression. U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”

• U.S. President Donald J. Trump, public statement, June 10, 2026: “Last month, I directed our Great U.S. Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Straight 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 Straight, 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! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP”

• President Trump, remarks at the White House, June 10, 2026: “I’ve been working with Iran for a number of months, and they should sign the deal. It’s a good deal. It doesn’t give them the right to have a nuclear weapon. In fact, it totally prohibits them from ever having a nuclear weapon.”

• President Trump, remarks reported by Department of War news, June 10, 2026: “We hit them hard yesterday and we’re gonna hit them again hard today. We’ll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal. But they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers.”

• Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, remarks at MacDill Air Force Base, June 10, 2026: “Central Command will be busy tonight because President [Donald J.] Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be. Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do -- and they haven’t been willing to do it.”

• Secretary Hegseth, on Operation Epic Fury and the blockade, June 10, 2026: “Adm. [Brad] Cooper and the team here at Centcom have done a phenomenal job from the beginning on Epic Fury, and through this blockade, ensuring that we have a chance to reach that end state -- which is Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, which they say they don’t want, and so since we’re so close to that negotiated deal, if that’s the case, they should step up and do it.”

• Secretary Hegseth, on Project Freedom, June 10, 2026: “Project Freedom -- the idea of running ships through the Strait of Hormuz -- it never stopped, it just went underground. And so, there’s some things the public knows, and some things the public doesn’t know, but ultimately, we’ve been protecting commercial shipping going through the Strait of Hormuz.”

• Secretary Hegseth, on the Strait of Hormuz, June 10, 2026: “The United States of America controls the Strait of Hormuz. We’re able to bring oil in and out and other things with partners and have done so now for weeks and weeks in ways the Iranians don’t want to acknowledge. That’s a powerful reality on the ground.”

• Secretary Hegseth, on a negotiated outcome, June 10, 2026: “Iran has an opportunity to make a deal. That’s the point. President Trump is a dealmaker -- the best in the world. He’s prepared to make that deal. Iran would be wise to take it. Otherwise, they would have to deal with the types of plans that I just had a chance to see inside Central Command.”

• U.S. Central Command, fact-check statement, June 10, 2026: “CLAIM: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. TRUTH: Commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight.”

• U.S. Central Command, fact-check statement, June 10, 2026: “CLAIM: Iranian media sources are claiming that Iran has attacked a U.S. warship in the Strait of Hormuz. FALSE. TRUTH: No U.S. warships have been struck.”

• U.S. Central Command, public release, June 10, 2026: “TAMPA, Fla. -- At 11:14 p.m. on June 9, U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second consecutive day after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces. CENTCOM forces have disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.”

• Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, statement, June 10, 2026 (translated from Arabic): “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the State of Kuwait’s condemnation and strongest denunciation of the continued heinous and repeated Iranian aggressions against the State of Kuwait, the latest of which occurred today, in a new escalation that adds to the ongoing series of Iranian attacks and constitutes a dangerous overreach that endangers the lives of civilians and the safety of vital and residential facilities. The Ministry affirms that the repetition of these aggressions reflects an organized aggressive approach, a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait, a blatant breach of the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter, and an undermining of efforts aimed at de-escalation in the region. The Ministry emphasizes that the State of Kuwait reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to preserve its security and defend its territories and vital facilities, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.”

• General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army, statement, June 10, 2026 (translated from Arabic): “The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army announces that Kuwaiti air defense systems are currently intercepting hostile aerial targets in accordance with approved operational procedures. It urges everyone to adhere to the security and safety instructions and guidelines issued by the competent authorities, and to obtain information from authorized official sources.”

• Kuwaiti Defense Ministry, statement, June 10, 2026 (translated from Arabic): “Kuwaiti air defense systems engaged hostile aerial targets at dawn today in accordance with approved operational procedures. All are urged to adhere to the security and safety instructions and guidance issued by the competent authorities, and to obtain information from approved official sources.”

• Bahrain Defense Force General Command, statement, June 10, 2026 (translated from Arabic): “The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force announces that Iran is continuing its systematic hostile approach through its criminal attacks with missiles and drones targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The General Command clarifies that, with firm will and high combat readiness, the air defense systems of the Bahrain Defense Force engaged, intercepted, and destroyed a number of the treacherous Iranian aerial attacks. The General Command affirms that all of its weapons and units are at the highest degrees of readiness and on defensive alert to protect the Kingdom. The General Command calls on everyone to exercise caution and to avoid approaching or touching any strange or suspicious objects resulting from the remnants of the brutal Iranian attack, and to report them immediately. The General Command affirms that the men of the Royal Field Engineering Unit are at full readiness to safely and technically handle those objects, in a manner that ensures public safety for all citizens and residents. The General Command stresses that the deliberate use of missiles and drones to target civilians and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force affirms its pride in the advanced combat readiness and high vigilance demonstrated by its valiant men in performing their sacred national duty in defense of the homeland.”

• General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces, statement via the National Center for Security and Crises Management, June 10, 2026 (translated from Arabic): “Jordanian air defense systems intercepted and downed, on Tuesday evening, five missiles launched from Iran toward the Azraq area in Zarqa Governorate. [.] The interception resulted in the fall of a number of fragments, without any human injuries or material damage, [.] the engineering teams dealt with the remnants of those missiles to ensure no explosive materials were present inside them. [.] The Jordanian Armed Forces are following current regional developments and emerging events, operating at the highest degrees of readiness to protect the Kingdom’s airspace and defend its sovereignty and the safety of its territory, and will not allow any violation of Jordanian airspace by any party.”

• Joint Statement on Iranian State Threat Activity, U.S. State Department Office of the Spokesperson, June 10, 2026 (excerpt): “The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden condemn the lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe, North America and Australia by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organization, Quds Force, and Ministry of Intelligence and Security, including those against Iranian dissidents, journalists and Jewish and Israeli communities and interests. We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now. [.] We also condemn the recent campaign of attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists, and U.S. interests, claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya and supported by their intermediaries. Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people on our soil, undermines national sovereignty and international norms. These actions must stop immediately. We commend the work of countries to counter these activities, and we are together resolved to undertake further measures to halt them.”

• United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Warning 066-26, June 10, 2026: “UKMTO has received a report of an incident 20NM northeast of Sohar, Oman. Local authorities have reported a tanker has experienced a fire in their engine room and are on the scene assisting with the evacuation of the crew. The vessel is reporting 1 casualty and 2 crew members missing. No environment impact reported. Authorities continue investigating.”

• United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Warning 065-26, June 10, 2026: “UKMTO has received a report of an incident 88NM southwest of Balhaf, Yemen. A cargo vessel has reported being approached by one craft with 6 armed persons onboard. There was an exchange of fire between the small craft and the cargo vessels Armed Security Team resulting in the small craft turning away. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”

• Secretary Hegseth, remarks at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, June 10, 2026: “[We want to make sure] the world understands that American might, whether it’s 9,000 miles away or 90 miles away from our shores, is the greatest in the world, and [we are] prepared to go on offense or defense at any moment to defend our interests.”

• Secretary Hegseth, remarks at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, June 10, 2026: “We’re defending the homeland, and we are taking back our hemisphere. This president came in and said not only is the Monroe Doctrine alive, and not only does the Roosevelt Corollary live, but now we have the ’Donroe Doctrine’ -- the [President Donald J.] Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. That the territory, terrain in our hemisphere, is key terrain.”