explainer
After the US bombed Iranian targets, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Published June 11, 2026
Iranian state media said Iran had launched retaliatory attacks against US forces in the region, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claiming it had attacked bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
The escalation came after the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had carried out attacks on multiple targets inside Iran, describing the operation as an act of “self-defense” amid rising tensions between Washington and Iran.
US President Donald Trump had earlier accused Iran of failing to reach an agreement with the US and warned that further military action was imminent. “It took too long to get a great deal for them, and now they’re going to have to pay the price,” Trump said.
Here’s what’s happening:
in iran
US attack on Iran: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that the US had launched attacks on “key facilities” in Iran and said the attacks were part of an attempt to secure a permanent ceasefire. Outside CENTCOM’s headquarters in Tampa, Florida, Hegseth said President Donald Trump had ordered a “tough” strike against Iran, warning that the strike could continue for a second straight night if necessary. Strait of Hormuz closure: Following recent attacks, Iran’s military high command announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Authorities warned all ships to stay away from the strategic waterway, saying vessels attempting to pass could be attacked. Water service restored: Authorities in Iran’s Hormozgan province announced that water supply had been restored to affected areas in Sirik province less than 12 hours after the US attack damaged infrastructure. Iranian media reported that two concrete reservoirs were hit in the attack. An analysis by The New York Times suggests the tank may have been hit with a precision-guided munition, raising concerns because international humanitarian law considers civilian water infrastructure to be protected. Tehran reacts to new fighting: Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Val said that despite fresh talk of negotiations, many Iranians expected further US attacks. “They were waiting for a surprise attack from the United States,” Val said, adding that Iran retaliated by attacking American military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The exchange marks another night of direct confrontation, after both sides indicated the previous attack was over.
in the Gulf and Jordan
Plane diverted in Kuwait: Kuwait’s civil aviation authority has temporarily closed the country’s airspace as a precautionary measure amid the escalating conflict, citing “Iranian aggression.” Officials said the flight would be diverted to another airport in accordance with approved emergency procedures. Kuwait Airways announced the suspension of all flights. US issues alert for Jordan: The US State Department has warned that missiles, drones and rockets have reportedly entered Jordanian airspace, and urged Jordanians to immediately seek overhead cover or shelter as the regional conflict escalates.
in israel
Projectiles land near Israeli troops: The Israeli military said two projectiles fired from Lebanon set off sirens in parts of northern Israel after they landed near Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon. The military reported no casualties or damage to military equipment.
in the US
Trump details recent attacks: In an interview with Fox News, President Donald Trump said the United States fired 49 Tomahawk missiles at targets inside Iran, some as far as 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Tehran, and said American warplanes targeted radar and air defense systems near the Gulf. President Trump also warned that the United States would bomb the country again “tomorrow night” if Iran did not accept the deal proposed by U.S. negotiators. According to Fox, he also claimed that senior Iranian officials had contacted the U.S. government to ask it to halt the attacks, a claim that Iranian officials have rejected. ‘Using bombs’ to force dialogue: Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said President Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of further US attacks on Iran, and claimed that Iran was ‘taking the US along’ in negotiations, even though the two countries had previously said they were close to a deal. Fisher noted that Hegseth later suggested that CENTCOM would be “busy tonight,” and described the strike as an effort to “expand the diplomatic field” for Trump’s negotiators by “using the bomb to get Iran back to the negotiating table.” Diplomacy through coercion: Retired US General Mark Kimmitt told Al Jazeera that Washington’s recent attacks seem to stem more from frustration with stalled diplomacy than from new Iranian provocations on the battlefield. Kimmitt said the US had previously used heavy artillery fire to “bring it back to the negotiating table,” comparing it to the Vietnam War. But he questioned whether the same approach would work in Tehran. “Iranians are using patience as one of their greatest tools,” he said.
in lebanon
Deadly attack in Sidon: An Israeli vehicle attack in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon killed two people and set a nearby vehicle on fire. Despite a ceasefire announced by the United States that took effect on April 16, Israel continues to carry out attacks in Lebanon.
