9 Updates on US Strikes Against Iran: Tehran Targets Arab Nations, China and Russia Protest

The Middle East has heated up again following the latest United States (US) airstrikes on Iranian territory, particularly in the southern region, on Tuesday evening local time or early Wednesday (10/6/2026). The US military said the strikes against Iran were retaliation for the downing of an Army Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump had earlier stated he wanted a ‘very strong’ response to the shooting down of the American helicopter by Iran. ‘This is a response to what they did… with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very devastating, and that’s what’s going to happen,’ Trump told ABC News. In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces said ‘proportionate strikes’ had been launched. The military described the strikes as an act of ‘self-defence’. ‘American forces began conducting self-defence strikes against Iran at 5:00 p.m. local time today at the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter yesterday,’ CENTCOM said in a post on X. ‘This mission is a proportional response to Iran’s unjustifiable aggression,’ it added. Here are nine updates on the situation. The US military struck nearly 20 targets in its attacks on Iran, a US official told CBS News. ‘Targets included Iranian air defences, radar sites, and ground control stations,’ CENTCOM said in a statement. Iran launched drone attacks targeting US military bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The IRIB news agency reported on Telegram that the Iranian navy launched drone attacks targeting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and the US F-35 Military Base in Jordan. Meanwhile, air raid warning sirens sounded in Bahrain. The defence ministry urged all citizens to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe place. The Kuwaiti military said its air defences were engaging ‘hostile air targets’. The Army General Staff announced that Kuwait’s air defence systems were engaging hostile air targets in accordance with established operational procedures. The Jordanian military said it shot down five missiles launched from Iran. Earlier, it was reported that Iran attacked the country targeting the US F-35 fighter jet base. ‘We intercepted and shot down five missiles launched from Iran towards Azraq. The interception resulted in falling debris, but there were no casualties or material damage,’ the Jordanian Armed Forces said in a statement. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported on the latest situation in Iran, stating that the attacks along Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz had ceased. ‘The situation is now reported to be calm,’ IRIB said on Telegram. Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned that its neighbouring Arab countries have ‘legal and moral responsibilities’, particularly to prevent American and Israeli attacks. ‘Reaffirming the legal and moral responsibility of all countries in the region (especially those located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf) to prevent the US and Israeli military from using their territory or facilities to plan, organise, execute, or support hostile actions against Iran,’ it stated. China reacted to the US-Iran escalation, urging against further escalation. ‘Relevant parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, stop intensifying the conflict and elevating the situation, and take concrete measures to de-escalate and cool down tensions,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference. Russia urged ‘restraint’ in the Iran conflict, saying it was deeply concerned while condemning the latest US strikes as aggression. ‘We are deeply concerned about the new round of US-Iran armed confrontation, which began with unjustified US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran,’ Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. ‘We call on both sides to show restraint and immediately halt military strikes,’ she said.