US carries out 'additional strikes' on Iran

US carries out 'additional strikes' on Iran

The US military said "additional strikes" have been carried out on targets in Iran. CENTCOM said the strikes were in response to a drone strike on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. DW has more.

What you need to know

US launches fresh strikes on Iran

CENTCOM said the strikes were in response to the latest attack on a commercial vessel

Hezbollah rejects US-brokered Israel-Lebanon security deal

Israel launched a drone strike in Lebanon's south

Bahrain condemns Iranian drone attack on its territory

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Please follow along for the latest developments on the Iran war and the wider Middle East region for the weekend of June 26 to 28:

Bahrain, Kuwait confirm Iranian attacks

Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday confirmed airstrikes within their airspace.

Bahrain said its defense forces "intercepted and destroyed a number of treacherous Iranian air strikes."

"Iran is continuing its systematic hostility approach through its sinister missile and marching aircraft attacks targeting civilians in the Kingdom of Bahrain," a statement from the Bahrain defense force said.

Bahrain reaffirmed that the "deliberate use of missiles and marching aircraft to target civilians and private property is a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law."

Meanwhile, Kuwait's army, without naming Iran, said that its armed forces "detected at dawn today two hostile ballistic missiles within Kuwaiti airspace, which were intercepted and dealt with in accordance with approved operational procedures."

Kuwait confirmed there was no damage or casualties reported.

Iraqi forces storm Green Zone in Baghdad

Iraqi security forces deployed in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone in the early hours of Sunday.

A raid reportedly targeted "several politicians," a security official told the AFP news agency.

The Green Zone is home to several diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy, as well as international institutions and government offices. High-ranking officials and politicians also live there for the relative security it provides.

Unverified video footage shared on social media showed security forces in tanks and other heavy vehicles in the Green Zone.

A security official told AFP, under the condition of anonymity, that a "raid targeted several politicians over financial corruption, per judicial orders," adding that the operation involved anti-terrorism forces and the military. No official statement has been released as yet.

The news agency said it did not receive any details about the politicians allegedly involved.

Some social media posts indicated the raids were conducted by pro-Iranian militia members .

Iraq's new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has vowed to fight corruption and mismanagement that has plagued Iraq for decades.

US attacked 10 Iranian targets, military command says

US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted a video it said was of Saturday's attack on Iran to social media.

It added that US fighter jets conducted strikes against a total of 10 Iranian military targets.

The US military had said earlier that the latest response targeted "surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities."

Iran's Guard Corps vows 'crushing response' to future attacks

Iran's semi-official Tasnim and IRNA news agencies reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missiles and drones at both Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the US strikes.

According to the report, the IRGC said vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz without consulting Iran would be dealt with more forcefully in the future and that any "enemy aggression" would meet with a "crushing response."

"Arrangements for controlling passage in the Strait of Hormuz are with the Islamic Republic, and from now on, violator ships will be dealt with more strongly than before," the IRGC wrote in a post on social media. "Any potential enemy aggression, under any pretext, will be met with a crushing response, even if, like last night and tonight, the aggressions are against less significant targets."

Who are Iran's Revolutionary Guards?

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Kuwait's military engages 'hostile missile and drone threats'

The Kuwaiti Army has issued a statement telling residents any explosions they hear are the result of air defenses "currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats."

Like Bahrain (see entry below), Kuwait has come under fire from Iran during the monthslong war as an ally to the United States. Thousands of US troops are stationed at bases around the country.

Warning sirens sound in Bahrain

Bahrain 's Interior Ministry issued an alert to residents to "head to the nearest safe location" following alarm sirens sounding.

Bahrain has often come under attack by Iranian airstrikes since the US-Israeli war against Iran began earlier this year. The country is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and has been a strong critic of Iran.

On Saturday, Bahrain said Iran launched a drone attack against it after the US struck southern Iran in what Washington said was in response to an earlier Iranian attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz (see entry below).

Bahrain warned that the earlier attacks were "sabotaging peace efforts."

Trump: Iran 'will no longer exist' if US applies full military power

Following the US strikes in southern Iran late Saturday, US President Donald Trump said "the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist" if a point comes when he decides the US will no longer be "reasonable."

In a social media post, he wrote that the attacks were because Iran was "violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!

"There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" he wrote.

US conducts additional strikes near Strait of Hormuz

The US military has conducted strikes on targets in Iran, US Central Command said in a statement.

The statement added that the fresh strikes were in response to a drone attack on a Panama-flagged tanker that was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday morning.

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that explosions were heard in southern Iran's Sirik region and Qeshm Island.

Lebanon's president asks Trump to help implement deal with Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told his US counterpart, Donald Trump , that ‌he ⁠hoped ⁠Washington would help prevent violations of ​a framework agreement with ​Israel and ensure agreed ​commitments ‌are fulfilled, particularly by pressing Israel to ‌withdraw from occupied ‌areas ​in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese presidency said on ​Saturday.

Trump emphasized that "the United States will contribute to supporting the Lebanese economy and the legitimate security forces, so that Lebanon can reclaim its pioneering role in its surroundings and the world," according to the Lebanese presidency's statement summarizing a Friday phone call between the leaders.

Aoun also said he told Trump that ​ Lebanon would assume its ​responsibilities in ‌implementing the framework agreement, the ​presidency ⁠added in a statement.

The Lebanese president's statement also said Trump indicated that he would soon host Aoun for a meeting in Washington.

Netanyahu plans 'broad national government'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to create a broader coalition to govern after the upcoming election. In a speech on Saturday, he distanced himself from both the far-right and the left.

"I intend to establish a broad national government, not a right-wing government, not a left-wing government that depends on Arab parties, but a broad national government," Netanyahu said, in a televised speech.

"Because only in this way, I think, can we reach internal agreements ... It means, first of all: enough with boycotts. I am not boycotting anyone. I say, everyone will be able to join; they simply need to agree to our basic principles, that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and that we respect individual rights," he added.

Netanyahu said the government that he aims to lead would help complete Israel's broader regional ambitions.

"After we have removed the Iranian existential threat, the broad national government can make peace within ourselves, deal with the remnants of the Iranian axis and reap the fruits of our victory in political agreements like the one we are making with Lebanon - and there are a few more on the way," he said.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister over several terms, has said he plans to run in national elections to be held no later than October 27. A recent survey showed that a majority of Israelis want him to leave office.

Netanyahu currently leads Israel's most far-right government . Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called Netanyahu's remarks "very disturbing."

"The government that Prime Minister Netanyahu must form should be a fully right-wing government," he said.

Why the Iran war left Israelis more skeptical of Netanyahu

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Netanyahu hails Lebanon deal, far-right minister Ben Gvir slams it

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday hailed the US-brokered framework agreement with Lebanon as "a historic achievement for Israel."

"Yesterday ... we achieved a historic deal for the state of Israel after direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon," Netanyahu said in a televised press conference.

He added that the agreement was a blow to Iran and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite militant group in Lebanon.

On the issue of the Israeli-declared "security zone" in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu said: "We'll continue to hold it until Hezbollah and other terror groups are disarmed."

Israeli troops have taken over an area of around 10 kilometers (six miles) in southern Lebanon, which Netanyahu argued was to "thwart the threat of invasion" from Hezbollah.

While Netanyahu touted the deal's success, Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called it "a big mistake" and stressed that Lebanon would not disarm Hezbollah.

"Ministers in the Lebanese government are Hezbollah members, and we cannot rely on Lebanon to take the weapons away from Hezbollah … Only IDF soldiers will destroy Hezbollah — no other entity will do it for us!," he said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

European Commission President von der Leyen welcomes Israel-Lebanon framework deal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the US-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework agreement as a "critical step" away from conflict in the Middle East.

"There can be no peace in the Middle East with Lebanon in flames," she said in a statement posted on X, thanking Washington for its mediation role.

Von der Leyen added "the disarmament of non-state groups and preserving Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity," was key next steps.

She said the EU was ready to support the agreement, including with the delivery of humanitarian aid worth €100 million ($114 million).

WATCH: Could US-backed Israel-Lebanon deal lead to civil war?

DW's Ben Fajzullin speaks with Hanin Ghaddar of the Washington Institute about what the agreement means, whether it will weaken Hezbollah, and if this framework can really lead to lasting peace.

Could US-backed Israel-Lebanon deal lead to civil war?

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Hezbollah leader rejects US-backed Israel-Lebanon agreement

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Saturday that the militant group deemed the US-backed Israel-Lebanon agreement "null and void."

He described it as a "humiliation" and a "surrender of sovereignty."

"The framework agreement in Washington is humiliating, shameful, and a surrender of sovereignty," Qassem said.

He said instead that the provisions of the US-Iran interim agreeement must be implemented.

Qassem said any attempt to link Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon to the group's disarmament crossed "red lines."

Israel has marked a "yellow line" in southern Lebanon where its troops are deployed. It says the line marks a "security buffer zone" set up to protect its citizens from attacks by Hezbollah.

The line is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border. However, there have been reports of Israeli soldiers operating beyond the yellow line and Lebanon's Litani River.

Israeli drone strike hits southern Lebanon

Israel carried out an airstrike Nabatiyeh area in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon's state news agency.

The Israeli military said the operation targeted suspected terrorists believed to pose a threat to Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

An army spokeswoman confirmed the strike to AFP news agency.

There were no immediate details on casualties or damage.

The incident marks the first such attack since Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-brokered security arrangement. That deal aimed to ease tensions along their shared border.

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