Day 103 | Trump vows US response after saying Iran shot down Apache helicopter
US President Donald Trump said the US military informed him that Iran had shot down a US Army Apache helicopter off the coast of Oman. Trump described the incident as a serious escalation, saying the United States "must, of necessity, respond to this attack." He added that both pilots were successfully rescued following the incident.
According to two US officials, the helicopter was reportedly brought down by an Iranian drone. A separate source told CNN that the aircraft was struck by a Shahed drone. One official noted that it remains unclear whether the helicopter was deliberately targeted or unintentionally caught in the drone's path.
In response to the growing tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned foreign military forces operating in the Strait of Hormuz to leave the area. He said those forces would remain at constant risk due to potential human errors, accidents, or the possibility of being caught in crossfire amid the ongoing confrontation.
Meanwhile, 'Israel' launched fresh airstrikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre and issued a rare evacuation warning for residents in the city's Christian quarter. The attacks mark a further expansion of military operations in southern Lebanon.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah, warned 'Israel' against continuing its offensive in Lebanon, raising concerns that the conflict could widen further as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Day 104 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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Read more: Day 104 | ‘We’re going to be attacking’: Trump vows to attack Iran again today
Iranian TV reports explosions heard near Kish Island
Iranian state television reported that sounds of explosions were heard from a distance near Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.
Iran activates air defenses in Fars province, Mehr reports
Iranian news agency Mehr reported that air defense systems have been activated in the southern province of Fars.
US strikes will target ‘key facilities’ in Iran: Hegseth
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said potential American strikes on Iran would target “key facilities” and would be “strong” and “clear,” while maintaining that Tehran still has an opportunity to reach a deal with Washington.
Hegseth did not specify which sites could be targeted but warned of further military action as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
Hegseth: “If they’re not going to make a deal, then we’re going to hit them hard”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington would strike Iran “hard” if Tehran refuses to reach a deal, echoing President Donald Trump’s latest warning.
Speaking at US Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, Hegseth said the military remains focused on achieving the outcome sought by Trump, who earlier vowed additional attacks on Iran and said, “We’re going to be attacking them very hard.”
Egpyt, Saudi, Qatar, UAE invited to upcoming G7 summit in France, says Macron
France’s President Macron says leaders from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will be invited to take part in next week’s G7 session in France, which will focus on negotiations to end the conflict with Iran and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
In comments carried by AFP, Macron said the disruptions in Hormuz have “a real impact on our economies” due in particular to soaring fuel prices.
Trump says US military secretly helped 100 million barrels of oil through Hormuz
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the US military secretly helped 100 million barrels of oil pass through the contested Strait of Hormuz, which Iran largely closed in response to US and Israeli attacks.
"Last month, I directed our Great U.S. Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Straight of Hormuz," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform, claiming the US "controls" the strait.
"Today, I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through," he said, adding that more than 200 commercial ships had gone through.
Netanyahu calls on Lebanese people to join 'Israel' against Hezbollah
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called on the Lebanese people to join 'Israel's' fight against Hezbollah, saying their country had been taken "hostage" by the militant group.
"Israel is not at war with you. We are at war with Hezbollah, that has taken your country hostage... We yearn for peace with you, with Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a video statement directed at the Lebanese people.
"Israel wants peace with you. Seize your future. Join Israel. Build safety and prosperity for all of our children. And once Hezbollah is dismantled, the possibilities are endless. And they are sky high."
VIDEO - Trump vows attacks on Iran after 'playing us for suckers'
CENTCOM disables oil tanker in Gulf of Oman amid ongoing blockade
US Central Command says its forces disabled the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello in the Gulf of Oman on June 9 after it failed to comply with instructions during transit.
CENTCOM said this is the second consecutive day of action against vessels it says violated an ongoing blockade, adding that eight ships have been disabled, 134 redirected, and 42 allowed to pass for humanitarian aid since April 13.
Trump vows attacks on Iran after 'playing us for suckers'
US President Donald Trump warned Wednesday he will renew attacks on Iran, saying Tehran's peace negotiators "keep playing us for suckers."
"We're going to be attacking them -- attacking them very hard," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers."
Trump vows US 'going to be attacking' Iran
Donald Trump said the United States would strike Iran "hard" again today while continuing to pursue a possible deal with Tehran.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "We'll see what happens. We hit them hard yesterday and we're going to hit them hard again today in case you miss it, in case you don't turn on your television set."
The President of the United States also praised the rescue of US Army personnel after an Apache helicopter was shot down.
On diplomacy, Trump said Washington had been "really close to a deal" but accused Iran of delaying negotiations, adding that Tehran was "playing us for suckers" and had previously dealt with "some very stupid presidents."
"And we'll see what happens with a deal. We were — we were really close to a deal but they keep tapping us along, they keep playing us for suckers because you know what, they dealt with some very stupid presidents. I have to say that, I'm embarrassed to say that, some very stupid people were sitting here."
Iran envoy slams 'counter-productive' new nuclear resolution
Iran's ambassador in Vienna on Wednesday called a new resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog demanding access to Tehran's nuclear sites "counter-productive" and an obstacle to talks with Washington.
Ambassador Reza Najafi told AFP the International Atomic Energy Agency resolution was "politically motivated" and "legally flawed".
The vote "cannot help and, would be indeed counterproductive to the current situation," he added. "It further complicates, the volatile, situation, volatile ceasefire, and the unfinished negotiations between Iran and the US."
VIDEO - Blaze engulfs vehicles after 'Israeli' strike on Lebanon's Sidon
UN chief warns of risk of return to 'full war' in Mideast
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday of the risk of return to "full war" in the Middle East after Iran and the United States traded strikes.
"We should not minimize the risks of a lesser fire becoming full fire, or in another word -- full war," Secretary-General Guterres said at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the tinderbox region.
US says strikes on Iran concluded after Apache helicopter downing
US official said that American strikes inside Iran have concluded after being launched in response to the reported downing of a US Apache helicopter, according to Al Jazeera.
The official added that US forces targeted around 20 locations across Iran as part of what Washington described as a self-defense operation.
He also said that Iranian attacks did not result in injuries among US personnel and caused no significant damage to military facilities.
Sirens sound in western Galilee, 'Israel' after drone detection
Air raid sirens were activated in Shlomi in the western Galilee after 'Israeli' authorities reported detecting a drone in the area.
More than 3,600 killed in 'Israeli' attacks on Lebanon since early March
'Israeli' attacks across Lebanon have killed at least 3,696 people and wounded 11,413 others since March 2, according to the latest figures released by Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
The conflict has also severely impacted the healthcare sector, forcing three hospitals to shut down and damaging 17 others.
Two suspects taken from Lebanon to ‘Israel’ for questioning: army
The ‘Israeli’ military said on Wednesday that it had detained two people who approached troops in southern Lebanon and taken them to ‘Israel’ for questioning.
"Earlier today, IDF soldiers identified two suspected individuals who approached the area in which IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement to AFP.
"Following the identification and in order to rule out any threat, the soldiers apprehended the suspected individuals, who were transferred to Israeli territory for further questioning."
'Israeli' strikes target vehicles in Sidon as attacks hit southern Lebanon
Vehicles were targeted in Sidon in an 'Israeli' attack, while additional strikes were reported in the Kfarreman roundabout area and on the town of Majdal Zoun in Tyre district, according to a Roya correspondent.
Additionally, at least five strikes had hit Majdal Zoun at the time of reporting.
No further details were revealed.
