Day 102 | Iran and 'Israel' halt strikes against each other but warn of renewed attacks

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Read more: Day 103 | Trump vows US response after saying Iran shot down Apache helicopter

Lebanon health ministry says 3 killed in 'Israeli' strike near Tyre

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged foreign forces on Tuesday to leave the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas, warning they faced a persistent risk of being caught in the crossfire if they remained.

"The Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters but shared between Iran and Oman... Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire," Araghchi posted on X.

"To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave," he added, after US President Donald Trump vowed a response following accusations that Iran shot down an Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.

'Israeli' strikes target Baraachit in southern Lebanon's Bint Jbeil district

Footage published by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon’s official military media channel on Telegram purports to show an Ababil attack drone targeting an 'Israeli' Merkava tank near the historic Beaufort Castle area in southern Lebanon on June 4, 2026.

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran had shot down a US military Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the United States would respond to the incident.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed by the US military that an American Apache helicopter was downed while conducting a patrol mission over the strategic waterway.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.

The president said two pilots were aboard the aircraft and both survived without injuries.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” he said.

Trump indicated that Washington would take action in response to the incident.

“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he wrote.

Two Lebanese Red Cross paramedics were injured in an 'Israeli' attack near their base in Tyre, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency, while at least nine people were reported killed. 

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “deeply alarmed” by escalating violence across the Middle East, calling for all attacks to stop immediately and for ceasefires in Iran, Lebanon and Gaza to be fully respected.

He also expressed concern over 'Israel’s' closure of Gaza crossings, urging their immediate reopening to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

Guterres stressed that there are “no military solutions” to the region’s conflicts and called for dialogue and negotiations to advance peace and security.

'Israel's' Channel 12 reported that the 'Israeli' military has shot and killed an armed individual who opened fire at an 'Israeli' army unit operating close to the border fence with Lebanon.

Kan News reported that the armed individual successfully crossed the border fence from Lebanon into 'Israel' before opening fire at an army unit.

In the immediate aftermath of the infiltration, a fleet of 'Israeli' attack helicopters launched intensive combat sorties directly over the border area, according to Hebrew media.

'Israel's' Army Radio reported that authorities have closed the border road linking Yiftah and Manara in the north after 'Israeli' military forces operating near the Lebanese frontier came under fire.

The 'Israeli' military commented that its soldiers operating in the Ramim Ridge area near the Lebanese frontier returned fire and eliminated a gunman following a shooting attack targeting their position; no military injuries were reported, and 'Israeli' Air Force aircraft have been scrambled to support ongoing searches as the incident continues.

This is a developing story.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health's Emergency Operations Center announced that an initial toll of an 'Israeli' airstrike targeting the Al-Masaken neighborhood in the city of Tyre has left eight people dead and 32 others injured, as rescue teams continue to clear the rubble.

'Israel's' Channel 14 reported that the Security Cabinet has decided that any future attack launched by Hezbollah against northern border towns will be met with immediate retaliatory strikes on Beirut, completely bypassing the need for prior approval from the political leadership.

• Fans unable to receive tickets for New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt matches
• Iran cites visa denials for delegation staff
• Team training camp moved from Arizona to Mexico amid ongoing disputes

The Iranian football federation accused the United States on Tuesday of blocking its supporters from attending the 2026 World Cup by revoking the team's official ticket allocation.

The announcement comes under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row and just three days before the tournament begins.

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) stated that the host nation acted to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums hosting the national team's three group-stage matches.

Broken FIFA regulations

According to governing body rules, participating federations receive an allocation of eight percent of stadium tickets for each match to distribute to their fans through official channels.

The FFIRI had already started selling these quotas to fans for upcoming matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, all scheduled to take place inside the United States.

The unexpected withdrawal of the quota means the federation is now unable to provide even a single ticket to supporters of the national team.

Iranian officials described the American move as contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries.

Pre-tournament disputes

The ticket dispute is the latest hurdle in a tense buildup for the Iranian delegation.

Tehran previously reported that American authorities refused to issue visas for 15 administrative and management staff members.

While the playing squad and core support staff successfully secured visas and landed in Mexico on Sunday, the visa denials forced a major logistical change.

Due to the rising tensions, Iran abandoned its original plan to base its training camp in Tucson, Arizona, moving the team to the Mexican border city of Tijuana instead.

The FFIRI has officially called on FIFA and tournament organizers to uphold principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations to resolve the ticket issue.

Neither FIFA nor United States organizers have publicly commented on the Iranian accusations.

Hezbollah has issued an extensive official statement robustly defending Iran’s recent ballistic missile strikes against 'Israel'.

The group framed the military response as a legitimate act of defense for the Lebanese people following repeated 'Israeli' violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement.

The statement serves as both a fierce defense of the Axis of Resistance and a direct internal political attack against members of the Lebanese government, whom Hezbollah accused of succumbing to foreign dictates.

Deterrence to Washington, Tel Aviv

According to the statement, the Iranian missile barrage sent a clear "moral, political, and field commitment" from Tehran to Beirut.

Hezbollah asserted that the strikes were triggered by 'Israel's' continuous violations of the truce, specifically pointing to renewed bombardments targeting the Southern Suburbs of Beirut (Dahiyeh) under the "complete cover of the US administration."

The group emphasized that Iran's intervention was designed to restore regional stability by forcing 'Israel' to abide by international agreements.

The statement also praised Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement for its coordinated support, noting that the joint operations were intended to send a stark warning to Washington.

"Support for the Zionist aggression on our country will subvert all the agreements [the US] seeks," the statement warned, revealing that Iran is firmly insisting on a "comprehensive ceasefire on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon," as a non-negotiable prerequisite to any diplomatic accord.

Hezbollah outlined that any final settlement must guarantee a total 'Israeli' withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the secure return of displaced citizens, reconstruction efforts, and the release of detainees.

Urging government to strengthen ties with Iran

The core of Hezbollah's message focused heavily on internal Lebanese politics.

The group fiercely rejected recent statements from within the Lebanese state apparatus that criticized Iran's regional role.

Hezbollah condemned what it described as a "joint statement" involving Lebanese authorities, the US, and 'Israel' directed against Tehran, calling it a breach of diplomatic norms and an "unacceptable, condemned alignment" that solely benefits the 'Israeli' military.

"This Iranian support for our legitimate rights, while bearing the material and political costs, confirms once again that Iran is the one supporting Lebanon and not the other way around," the statement read.

The group added that Tehran’s historical role in liberating and rebuilding Lebanon deserves "gratitude from its authorities, rather than denial and deliberate offenses in response to external dictates."

Islamabad negotiations 

Looking ahead politically, Hezbollah urged the Lebanese state to seize the current diplomatic momentum to correct its official ties with Tehran.

The group specifically highlighted a "new regional umbrella emerging from the Islamabad negotiations" as a crucial source of leverage.

Hezbollah argued that Beirut should utilize this new diplomatic framework, combined with the "strength of the Resistance," to engage in indirect negotiations with 'Israel'.

According to the group, this approach is the only viable path to achieve national goals, secure borders, and preserve sovereign rights.

Concluding the address on behalf of its fighters, displaced civilians, and families of casualties, Hezbollah extended its deepest gratitude to Iran’s Supreme Leader, the President, the government, the parliament, the regular army, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), vowing to continue its armed campaign "no matter how great the sacrifices."

Government spokesperson Fatima Mohajerani emphasizes Tehran and Beirut do not fight on behalf of one another, warning of a 'common enemy' seeking to fracture Iran and destroy Lebanon

Iranian Government Spokesperson Fatima Mohajerani announced that the Islamic Republic will fully mobilize both its diplomatic channels and its strategic defense capabilities to secure and defend the rights of the Iranian people.

Speaking during a press briefing, Mohajerani delivered a highly calculated address aimed at reframing Iran’s regional alliances amidst intense international scrutiny and fluid military developments across the Middle East.

Dismantling 'Proxy' narrative

In a notable clarification of Tehran's foreign policy rhetoric, the government spokesperson forcefully pushed back against Western and 'Israeli' terminology that routinely characterizes regional armed factions as mere extensions of Iranian state power.

"Iran and Lebanon are not proxies for one another, and neither fights on behalf of the other," Mohajerani declared.

The statement underscores a deliberate effort by Tehran to portray its regional allies, particularly in Lebanon, as independent sovereign actors who possess their own localized decision-making power, rather than assets managed remotely by the Iranian leadership.

'Common Enemy' 

Despite emphasizing the independence of each front, Mohajerani made it clear that Tehran and Beirut share an interconnected fate when confronting external military threats.

She warned of sweeping, hostile geopolitical plots aimed at fundamentally reshaping the borders of the Middle East.

"Iran and Lebanon have a common enemy that wants to completely destroy Lebanon, and to partition and weaken Iran," the spokesperson asserted.

Mohajerani concluded by reiterating that while both nations operate independently, their defensive alignments are a natural response to these existential threats.

She vowed that Iran's dual approach of rigorous diplomacy and advanced defensive posturing will remain fully active to protect the country's national security interests and deter foreign aggression.

'Israeli' Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock has revealed that political constraints are currently restricting the military from launching strikes inside the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while emphasizing that forces face zero limits in the southern region of the country.

Speaking directly to the 'Israeli' Army Radio, the far-right minister outlined the tactical boundaries governing the current round of hostilities, while issuing a sharp, direct warning to Hezbollah against testing the state's red lines.

Beirut limitations vs. southern green light

Minister Strock provided rare transparency into the operational constraints facing the air force and ground troops amidst a highly volatile and fragile regional security landscape.

"We have restrictions on attacking in Beirut, but there are no restrictions on operations in southern Lebanon," Strock told the military broadcaster.

The admission points to intense, behind-the-scenes international diplomatic pressure -primarily from Washington- to keep the Lebanese capital insulated from heavy bombardment, even as 'Israeli' military jets continue to unleash heavy airstrikes and "belts of fire" across towns and refugee camps further south.

New security doctrine

Refusing to tolerate low-level skirmishes or war-of-attrition tactics along the northern border, Strock made it clear that Tel Aviv has shifted its defensive doctrine to prevent a return to the pre-war status quo.

"We have now established a situation of non-normalization with being fired upon," Strock asserted, indicating that the security cabinet will no longer absorb localized rocket or drone barrages without triggering massive retaliation.

Sending a blunt message to the militant group's leadership following recent cross-border exchanges, the Settlement Minister warned of devastating consequences if the truce collapses completely.

"If Hezbollah fires, we will respond painfully, and they will realize that it is not in their interest," Strock concluded.

The 'Israeli' military has issued an urgent, comprehensive evacuation mandate for the coastal city of Tyre and its surrounding refugee camps, directly threatening upcoming airstrikes.

The statemnent named the city’s historic Christian Quarter as a primary target zone, alleging that Hezbollah operatives have compromised the neighborhood. 

A series of intensive 'Israeli' airstrikes has created a devastating "belt of fire" in the Al-Abbassieh area near the southern city of Tyre, prompting Lebanese Civil Defense teams to rush to the scene where they have already treated multiple casualties for injuries.

US President Donald Trump has announced that a major diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran could be finalized in a matter of days, expressing strong confidence that a comprehensive new agreement will completely halt Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions.

The President’s optimism comes on the heels of a highly volatile 24 hours in the Middle East that nearly pushed the region into all-out war.

It also underscores his clear strategic preference for rigorous economic containment rather than open-ended military entanglements.

Deal "within a few days"

Speaking about the status of the backchannel negotiations, Trump revealed that the draft framework is nearing completion.

"I may have an idea regarding the agreement with Iran within a few days," Trump noted, reiterating that his objective is a total freeze on Iran's nuclear expansion.

Trump promised that his administration would deliver an ironclad accord that permanently dismantles Tehran's enrichment capability.

"We hope to reach a great deal with Iran, and we will not allow it to possess a nuclear weapon," the US President asserted, taking a direct swipe at the previous administration's foreign policy legacy by adding, "We will have a deal with Iran that is better than the Obama deal."

The diplomatic momentum follows an unannounced, temporary mutual standstill. Trump believes the fever pitch in the region is finally breaking, noting that the immediate threat of total war has receded: "I think things will calm down in the region because both sides agreed to a ceasefire."

Netanyahu "wonderful call" 

Addressing the intense defense discussions that took place over the weekend, Trump firmly defended 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right to respond to recent Iranian ballistic missile strikes.

The statements represent a notable shift from a previous, expletive-laden exchange between the two leaders regarding 'Israeli' operations in Beirut.

"I don't blame Netanyahu because 'Israel' was bombed, and my call with him was wonderful," Trump stated, smoothing over reports of behind-the-scenes friction.

Nevertheless, Trump made it clear that while he respects 'Israel's' security requirements, his priority remains preventing an American combat deployment.

He emphasized that using severe fiscal pressure to squeeze Tehran remains a far more effective tool for the United States than launching a broader war.

"The economic blockade on Iran is better for us than the military option," Trump explained, pointing to the ongoing naval enforcement campaign. He concluded that Washington remains completely aligned on one non-negotiable end-state: "We are heading toward completely depriving Iran of nuclear weapons."

Hormuz helicopter crew safe

In a brief update regarding a separate, high-stakes maritime incident in the critical trade corridors of the Persian Gulf, President Trump provided reassurance about an American military asset.

The President confirmed that the two pilots whose helicopter went down near the strategic Strait of Hormuz during recent patrol operations have been successfully located and are completely safe.

The incident had initially sparked fears of a potential capture or hostile engagement amidst the heavy naval blockade.

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington is in a strong position to achieve President Donald Trump’s objectives in negotiations with Iran, adding that Tehran appears willing to put “real things on the table” and that any agreement would be verified by the United States.

'Israel’s' ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, brushed aside reports of friction between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying “sometimes lovers have a spat” and describing their relationship as a deep friendship spanning four decades.

Speaking to Fox News, Leiter said Netanyahu agreed to lower the temperature on military action against Iran at Trump’s request, while stressing that the US president understands 'Israel’s' position that it cannot absorb ballistic missile attacks without responding.

He added that cooperation between Washington and Tel Aviv remains close, with “tremendous understanding” between the two allies.