US launches new wave of strikes on Iran after Apache downing, Tehran retaliates with missiles on Gulf bases

A new wave of US strikes

The United States military launched a fresh round of attacks against Iran on the evening of 10 June 2026. US Central Command (Centcom) announced on X that the strikes, described as self-defence actions, began at 17:15 East Coast time and targeted multiple objectives in Iran. The operation was ordered by the Commander-in-Chief and is a response to what Centcom called Iran's continued and unjustified aggression.

Explosions were reported in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as on Qeshm Island and Hengam Island. Iranian state media also reported air defence activity west of Tehran, with further blasts heard around Kish Island in the Persian Gulf and the port of Sirik, near Minab in Hormozgan province.

The trigger: an Apache downed

The latest escalation follows an earlier sequence of attacks that began overnight. The initial US raids were a reprisal for the downing of an American Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces. President Donald Trump demanded a powerful response, telling ABC News, "I want a very powerful response."

Those first US strikes, carried out by Air Force and Navy fighter jets using precision munitions, targeted Iranian air defence systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites around the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom confirmed the conclusion of that initial wave on X.

Iran's retaliation widens the theatre

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded to the initial US raids by launching missiles and drones at American targets across the region. The IRGC claimed on Telegram to have struck 21 military objectives, including the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and American military bases in Jordan and Kuwait.

In Bahrain, a video geolocated by CNN appeared to show a flash of light near a US base shortly after sirens sounded in the country. Jordan's armed forces announced they intercepted and downed five missiles launched from Iran towards Azraq, stating that falling debris caused no casualties or material damage. Both Jordan and Kuwait reported activating their air defences, though it remains unclear whether US facilities sustained damage. A US attack drone was also shot down in Iranian airspace.

Maritime collateral and missing sailors

Amid the crossfire, an Indian-flagged tanker was struck by American forces off the coast of Oman on Tuesday afternoon after failing to comply with an order to stop. According to New Delhi, 21 crew members were rescued, while three others remain missing. India's Ministry of External Affairs described the ongoing attacks on regional maritime traffic as a direct consequence of the conflict and reiterated its call for an immediate de-escalation.

Diplomacy persists alongside the strikes

Despite the military exchanges, diplomatic channels remain open. Qatari mediators have travelled to Iran in an effort to finalise an agreement with the United States. A US official told CNN that the Trump administration believes the strikes will not hinder peace talks. Vice President JD Vance had earlier indicated that a deal addressing Iran's nuclear programme was close, and the White House echoed that sentiment, stating an agreement is near.

A clear violation of national sovereignty.

Tehran's foreign ministry condemned the US attacks as a violation of its sovereignty and warned neighbouring Gulf states against allowing the US or Israel to use their territory or infrastructure for hostile actions against Iran, citing their legal and moral responsibility to prevent such use.