US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed on Wednesday that the United States launched a second consecutive night of airstrikes on key facilities in Iran, describing the attacks as part of ongoing negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. Speaking in Tampa, Florida, after leaving the US Central Command headquarters, Hegseth said the strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump and reviewed with CENTCOM Commander Admiral Bradley Cooper. CENTCOM later announced “additional self-defense strikes” at 5:15pm Eastern time, while Iran’s IRNA reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas and Gorgan.

The strikes follow the downing of a US AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week, which Trump blamed on Iran. The renewed attacks have fractured the fragile truce established on April 8, amid conflicting explanations from Washington about the war’s purpose. Hegseth said the offensive was meant to pressure Iran into advancing stalled negotiations, echoing Trump’s warning that Tehran would “pay the price” for delays.

Iran has responded with strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, signaling no intention to retreat. Analysts described Hegseth’s remarks as a return to “gunboat diplomacy,” using military force to gain diplomatic leverage.

Iran’s central military command has announced the complete closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz following recent US attacks. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s correspondent said the Iranian command warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be treated as a target. The announcement came shortly after US forces, under orders from former President Donald Trump, carried out multiple strikes on Iranian targets.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iran’s military surveillance, communications, and air defense systems, citing Tehran’s continued aggression as justification. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Iran had been given a chance to reach an agreement but failed to do so. In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran would stand firm against any pressure or threats, while the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized Washington’s stance as harmful to diplomatic efforts.

The escalation follows a short-lived ceasefire agreed in April, which was meant to last two weeks but failed to stop sporadic attacks. Renewed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran have collapsed, intensifying regional tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force chief, Majid Mousavi, has warned that the Middle East will turn into 'hell' for the United States. His statement came in response to the latest US attack on Iran, according to a report by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

Mousavi accused the US of making the Strait of Hormuz unsafe and vowed that Iran would retaliate across the region. He declared that Iran would make the entire area a 'hell' for American forces, adding that this would be the response to what he described as US arrogance in the region. The remarks were reported by Tasnim and cited by Al Jazeera.

The warning follows reports of Iranian attacks on 18 US military sites in the Middle East and incidents involving two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting escalating tensions between the two nations.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that its forces carried out multiple strikes on targets across Iran under the directive of President Donald Trump. In an update posted on social media platform X, CENTCOM stated that the attacks targeted Iran’s military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense infrastructure.

According to CENTCOM, precision munitions were used against specific Iranian sites that allegedly posed threats to international commercial shipping routes and US forces in the region. The command described the strikes as a response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and ongoing aggression.”

CENTCOM concluded its message by emphasizing that US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared, signaling continued readiness amid heightened regional tensions.

Amnesty International has accused Israel of conducting a state-led campaign of ethnic cleansing against Bedouin and herding communities in the occupied West Bank. The rights group’s report, released Wednesday from Ramallah, claims that Israel’s actions are accelerating the annexation of Palestinian territories. It says these rural Palestinian groups are the main victims of settler violence and forced displacement, with at least 27 communities in Area C displaced or at risk between 2023 and 2025.

The report states that Israel’s current right-wing government is supporting settlers’ religious nationalist agenda by expanding settlements, increasing financial and logistical aid, and allowing settlers to carry weapons, leading to state-backed violence. Amnesty argues that these policies, along with public calls by some Israeli officials to reduce Palestinian presence, amount to deliberate state policy. The organization says such forced expulsions and population transfers could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard, presenting the report in Berlin, urged the European Union to suspend agreements with Israel, saying symbolic sanctions have failed to curb settlement expansion or violence.

Analysts describe Iran’s recent missile attacks on Israel as its most daring move in decades, signaling a break from the long-standing pattern of proxy warfare and limited retaliation in the Middle East. The strikes, launched in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, indicate Tehran’s willingness to extend its ‘red line’ beyond its borders and take greater risks under its new leadership.

Despite a ceasefire agreement signed between the United States and Iran on April 8, Tehran accuses both Washington and Tel Aviv of violating it through continued military actions. Lebanon’s prime minister reported thousands of Israeli strikes, while Iran responded with limited counterattacks and warned of broader escalation if diplomacy fails. The downing of a U.S. helicopter has further heightened regional instability.

Experts attribute this assertive stance to Iran’s new generation of leaders who have abandoned the strategy of “strategic patience.” They are now using direct military and economic power to shape regional geopolitics. Observers note that Iran is exploiting divisions between Washington and Tel Aviv, as U.S. President Donald Trump urges restraint while Tehran seeks to strengthen its diplomatic leverage.

A coalition of 22 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, has called on Iran to immediately stop what they describe as killings, abductions, and harassment of dissidents and journalists living in Europe, North America, and Australia. The appeal was reported by Al Jazeera on June 10, 2026, citing a joint statement released by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

According to the statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence branch, Quds Force, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security have been carrying out hostile and threatening activities abroad targeting Iranian political dissidents, journalists, Jewish communities, and individuals or organizations linked to Israeli interests. The signatories warned Tehran that they remain united and determined to protect their sovereignty and citizens from such transnational threats.

The statement was endorsed by countries including Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

An elderly Indian Muslim man has been stranded for several days in the no-man’s land between India and Bangladesh near the Dewanganj border in Jamalpur. Local sources and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) reported that members of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) from Assam’s Nandirchar camp attempted to push the man, a resident of Chennai, into Bangladesh through the Jhaudanga border. The BGB and local residents intervened to prevent the push-in, but the man remained trapped between the two countries, suffering from hunger and exposure.

BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Hasanur Rahman stated that BSF has repeatedly tried to push people across the border illegally and that BGB remains on high alert. Despite attempts to resolve the issue through a flag meeting, no solution was reached. Local residents and rights activists described the incident as part of a growing pattern of Indian Muslim citizens being forced toward Bangladesh. Human rights worker Jahangir Selim said such actions violate international law and human rights principles.

Observers at the scene questioned the humanitarian implications, noting that the stranded man’s plight highlights broader concerns about citizenship, identity, and state responsibility along the border.

India has summoned a senior US diplomat in New Delhi following an attack on a commercial tanker near the coast of Oman that left three Indian nationals missing. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks was called in on Wednesday to receive a formal protest. The incident has triggered diplomatic tension between the two countries.

The tanker, named Settébello, carried 24 Indian crew members. Twenty-one were rescued after the attack, while three remain unaccounted for. UK-based maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the strike may have resulted from a US military operation aimed at blocking Iranian ports. The US Central Command stated that the vessel was attempting to breach sanctions by heading toward Iran and was disabled by precision fire targeting its engine room.

India expressed deep concern over the attack, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of civilian ships and sailors in international waters. Coordination with Omani authorities is ongoing to locate the missing crew members.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that Israel’s continued attacks in Syria and Lebanon have reached a level that poses a direct security threat to Turkey. Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party on Wednesday, Erdogan described Israel’s actions as aggression that endangers global stability and must be stopped immediately. He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates of escalating the situation to a point that now threatens Turkey’s own safety, emphasizing that Ankara’s security is closely tied to that of Syria and Lebanon.

Turkey, a NATO member, has long condemned Israel’s operations in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon, calling Israel the main obstacle to regional peace. Ankara has already suspended all trade with Israel and urged international legal action against it. Erdogan further alleged that Israel is secretly working to destabilize the Mediterranean and Africa by fueling divisions in Cyprus, warning that any violation of Turkish or Turkish Cypriot rights in the Eastern Mediterranean would meet a strong response.

Erdogan also blamed Israel for provoking recent U.S.-Iran tensions and urged world powers to take a clearer stance, saying that holding Israel accountable under international law is a shared responsibility of all humanity.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the Middle East faces a serious risk of a full-scale war following recent retaliatory attacks between Iran and the United States. Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York, he described the regional situation as extremely dangerous and cautioned that tensions could quickly spiral out of control.

Guterres emphasized that even a small spark could ignite a much larger conflict, urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint. He noted that in the current tense environment, any miscalculation or wrong move could trigger a major confrontation.

The warning came amid escalating hostilities in the region, with reports of new U.S. strikes on Iran and growing international concern over the potential for wider conflict.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States may resume military operations against Iran after ongoing peace talks failed to achieve expected progress. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, he said Washington is prepared to take tough measures and hinted that civilian infrastructure could be considered as potential targets if necessary. Trump cited the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz as one of the reasons for possible military retaliation.

Trump noted that his administration has been working for months toward a settlement with Tehran, describing the proposed deal as potentially beneficial for Iran. However, he expressed frustration over the slow pace of negotiations and accused Iran of deliberately stalling. When asked whether power plants or bridges could be targeted, he did not rule it out, instead criticizing Tehran for wasting time.

Experts warned that targeting civilian infrastructure would raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns under international law. Analysts said the combination of peace talks and military threats could complicate diplomacy and risk escalating the Middle East conflict further.

The United States has launched new military strikes inside Iran just hours after President Donald Trump announced tougher measures. Trump accused Tehran of taking too long to reach a potential peace agreement and vowed stronger action. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that it began “additional defensive strikes” against multiple targets in Iran, describing them as a response to Iran’s “unjustified and continuous aggression.”

Following the attacks, Iran’s top military authorities declared the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz to all ships, including commercial vessels, warning that any attempt to cross would be targeted. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran would stand firm against any pressure or threats, while the country’s foreign ministry criticized Washington’s stance as harmful to diplomatic efforts.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said key Iranian facilities would be bombed, arguing that Iran had missed its chance for compromise. The renewed hostilities come after a short-lived ceasefire agreement in April failed to hold, with recent talks between Washington and Tehran collapsing and tensions escalating further.

Saudi Arabia has highly praised Bangladesh for its exceptional efficiency and discipline in managing this year’s Hajj operations. Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah described the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bangladesh as a model of success during a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) at the Pilgrims Experience Program Center in Riyadh. He also extended gratitude to Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Tareq Rahman through the minister.

During the meeting, the Saudi minister commended the orderly conduct of Bangladeshi pilgrims and expressed hope for continued cooperation to further improve Hajj management. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to modernize and simplify the 2027 Hajj process. In response, Minister Kaykobad thanked the Saudi government for its revolutionary improvements in Hajj management and praised the use of modern technology, crowd control, and safety measures that created a worship-friendly environment.

Officials from both countries attended the meeting, and observers noted that Saudi Arabia’s formal recognition is expected to enhance Bangladesh’s international image in Hajj management.

A new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) shows that trust in the United States as a security guarantor has dropped to its lowest level among Europeans. Across 15 European countries, only about 11 percent of respondents view the United States as an ally, and most doubt Washington would come to their aid if attacked. The survey was conducted in May across Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The report notes that many Europeans expect relations with Washington to improve after Donald Trump’s presidency but are simultaneously preparing to strengthen their own defense systems and reduce reliance on U.S. military support. Factors such as U.S. actions in the Middle East, threats against Greenland, troop withdrawal pledges from European bases, and uncertainty about NATO’s future have encouraged Europe to take more independent security measures.

The survey also found strong support for reducing dependence on U.S. military equipment and prioritizing European-made products, with the highest backing in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.