US Strikes Iran
US Military Strikes Multiple Targets in Iran for Second Day Amid Renewed Fire
The U.S. military is striking "multiple targets" inside Iran for the second straight day, AP News reports, as a rapidly escalating conflict pulls the entire Middle East toward the edge of full-scale war. The latest wave of strikes began at 5:15 p.m. ET on June 10, hitting ammunition depots, command-and-control nodes, and radar sites across southern Iran.
Iran has responded by declaring the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world's oil — closed to all shipping. Explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Minab, and Qeshm Island overnight, according to AP News.
How a Downed Apache Helicopter Started This Fight
The crisis began June 8 when a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near the coast of Oman. A U.S. official confirmed it collided with an Iranian Shahed drone. The crew was rescued by an unmanned drone boat. President Trump blamed Tehran directly and said the U.S. "must" respond.
Day one strikes launched at 5:50 p.m. ET on June 9, targeting Iranian military sites. By day two, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. was hitting Iran "hard" to "set the terms" for negotiations. He went further: "If we need to negotiate with bombs, we'll negotiate with bombs," AP News reported.
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Threatening Global Oil Supply
At 4:52 a.m. local time on June 11, Iran's top military command announced the Strait of Hormuz is now closed. Any vessel attempting to pass will be targeted. The closure threatens a chokepoint that carries millions of barrels of oil every day to world markets, AP News reported.
U.S. inflation is already above 4%, driven by spiking energy prices. Iran also claims to have targeted 21 U.S. military installations in drone counterattacks. The U.S. Fifth Fleet may now face a choice: launch a dangerous escort mission through the strait or let global oil supplies be cut off.
Allies Hit, Tanker Disabled, and Civilians Left Without Water
Iran did not limit its fire to U.S. forces. Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan — all hosting American troops — intercepted incoming Iranian fire on June 10, according to AP News. All three countries have since called for "serious negotiations" to stop the fighting from spreading further.
At 2:53 p.m. ET on June 10, the U.S. fired on a Palau-flagged tanker, the M/T Settebello, for allegedly carrying Iranian oil in violation of a naval blockade. Three Indian sailors are now missing. Iranian state media also says U.S. strikes on water reservoirs in Sirik left 20,000 people without reliable water access. The U.S. has disabled eight merchant vessels total during the blockade, AP News reported.
Tehran Says It Will Not Talk Under the Threat of Bombs
Iran's UN envoy told the Security Council that Iran "has never negotiated under threats and pressure," according to AP News. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the strikes a violation of sovereignty and said Tehran would "review its stance on negotiations."
Meanwhile, some U.S. defense officials are privately alarmed. The Pentagon is burning through missile and interceptor stockpiles at a fast pace. Seven major defense industry leaders are set for a "potentially ugly" meeting with the White House to discuss thinning supplies. Trump, for his part, has swung between saying a peace deal is "days away" and warning Iran will "pay the price."
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