Gulf Fire Tests Fragile Ceasefire
New Exchange of Fire with Iran in the Gulf Tests Already Fragile Ceasefire
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A fresh exchange of fire between the U.S. and Iran is pushing a fragile ceasefire to the breaking point. On June 5, U.S. forces intercepted four Iranian drones and seven ballistic missiles aimed at Bahrain and Kuwait, according to AP. The U.S. then struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk. Iran fired back at U.S. bases in both countries — and the truce that has held since April now hangs by a thread.
The violence follows a June 3 Iranian drone strike on Kuwait's main airport that killed one person and wounded dozens, briefly shutting the airfield, AP reported. Brent crude oil has climbed above $100 per barrel — its highest level since the ceasefire began — as markets react to the renewed fighting.
How the June Ceasefire Unraveled in 48 Hours
Vice President JD Vance confirmed a 60-day ceasefire extension was reached on May 29, according to SM Daily Journal. But the deal collapsed fast. On June 6, the U.S. military hit Iranian coastal surveillance radar stations, calling the move defensive. Iran's Revolutionary Guard called it an act of aggression and struck the Ali al-Salem Airbase in Kuwait and the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain in response.
Bahrain's government called the missile launches a "flagrant violation of sovereignty" and a "serious escalation," according to The Guardian. Kuwait joined Bahrain in formally demanding that Tehran stop the attacks. Both countries are now urging international mediators to step in before the situation spirals further.
War's Roots: Operation Epic Fury and the April Truce
The current crisis grew out of the 2026 Iran War, which started on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and government buildings in "Operation Epic Fury." Pakistan brokered a ceasefire on April 8, initially set to last 14 days. President Trump extended it indefinitely on April 21, but the Strait of Hormuz has stayed effectively closed ever since.
Peace talks in Islamabad have hit a deadlock. Iran wants its frozen assets unfrozen and Israeli forces fully out of southern Lebanon. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the conflict "will not end" until Israel withdraws, linking the Gulf and Lebanon fighting into one demand, according to CBS News. The U.S. Treasury is now moving to seize those frozen Iranian assets to pay Gulf allies for war damages.
Lebanon Attacks and a Widening Regional Fire
The Gulf flare-up is not happening in isolation. On June 6, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed nine people, including a Lebanese Army brigadier general and a captain, AP reported. The Lebanese Army condemned what it called "continued, deliberate, and repeated Israeli aggression." Iran's foreign minister has used the Lebanon situation as leverage in nuclear and ceasefire talks.
Experts warn both sides are treating the ceasefire as a tactical pause rather than a path to peace. Ryan Bohl, a Middle East analyst, describes the phase as a "battle of wills" in which limited strikes serve as bargaining chips. He says a full peace deal is unlikely before the end of June, according to Fair Observer.
Oil Prices Spike as Millions Face Rising Hunger
The renewed fighting is hammering global markets and vulnerable populations. Brent crude has broken above $100 per barrel for the first time since the ceasefire began, according to Global News. The Strait of Hormuz remains functionally closed, choked by a U.S. naval blockade and Iranian "transit rules" that tax or reroute shipping through the world's most important oil lane.
The World Food Programme says millions of people are being pushed into hunger as food prices soar, driven directly by the disruption of Gulf shipping, The Guardian reported. Turkey's foreign minister has warned that Iran's new transit rules could become a permanent source of conflict and called on all sides to return to the pre-war status quo before the damage becomes irreversible.
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