Second day in a row/ US and Iran exchange attacks in the Middle East

2026-06-11 07:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United States and Iran have exchanged attacks for the second day in a row in the Middle East, increasing tensions and jeopardizing a fragile ceasefire that was reached between the two countries in April.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that it had carried out a wave of attacks that it described as "self-defensive", hitting military facilities, surveillance systems and radars in southern Iran.

The attacks came after US President Donald Trump declared that US forces would hit Iran "hard", accusing Tehran of delaying negotiations for a long-term peace deal.

In response, Iran launched attacks on US military facilities in several countries in the region. US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait came under fire for the second day in a row, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched ballistic missiles at a US command center in Jordan.

The IRGC claimed to have destroyed a large number of US warplanes and military facilities after striking the Muwaffaq Salti airbase in Jordan, but these claims have not been independently verified.

Authorities in Bahrain announced that air raid sirens were activated overnight, while Kuwait's military said its air defense systems had intercepted hostile targets. Kuwait also temporarily closed its airspace.

In the latest developments, Iranian state media reported that the IRGC had attacked two oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. It was also reported that the strait had been closed to all types of ships, although CENTCOM stated that commercial maritime traffic was continuing normally.

Following these reports, oil prices rose. Brent crude, the global benchmark, reached around $95 per barrel, up about 2%.

On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran will remain steadfast in the face of any pressure or threat. The Iranian Foreign Ministry accused the US of damaging the diplomatic process through contradictory messages.

The ceasefire reached in April was initially intended to last two weeks, but since then the two sides have exchanged sporadic attacks. Recent attempts at negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled, as tensions have escalated.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the Middle East is increasingly sinking into crisis and called for a diplomatic solution. /CNA