Mideast War Day 98: U.S. Strikes Iranian Radar After Downing Drone, Latest Developments

On the 98th day of the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran, the U.S. military announced it had conducted airstrikes on Iranian coastal radar stations after shooting down an Iranian drone launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, complicating efforts to end the war between the two nations.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated today that its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently struck coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island in Iran.

CENTCOM said these drones "posed a direct threat to regional maritime traffic."

U.S. military officials indicated that Iran launched seven ballistic missiles at its Persian Gulf neighbors Kuwait and Bahrain. CENTCOM announced in a statement on social media platform X that U.S. forces had intercepted six of the missiles, while the seventh "did not hit its intended target."

U.S. President Trump stated that Iran has "21%, 22%" of its missiles left, adding that eventually, "they will have no choice" but to make a deal with the United States. A U.S.-Iran ceasefire is looking shaky after Iran launched dozens of missiles at its Persian Gulf neighbors this week.

"They still have capability, they have some missiles and they have drones," Trump said in an interview with NBC News. "I would say, as a percentage, they probably have 21, 22% of their missiles left."

According to the NBC News website, Trump said Iran's leadership has not yet reached a deal with the U.S. to end the war because they are "strong" and "proud," but he added that eventually "they will have no choice" but to make a deal.

With the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran nearing 100 days and lasting longer than expected, Trump said he thinks the war is progressing rapidly, noting the Vietnam War lasted 19 years while he has only been at it for three months.

"I'm moving very fast. You know, I'm into my third month. The Vietnam War lasted 19 years, and I'm only into my third month," Trump said in the interview.

Israel continues its attacks on southern Lebanon and has stated that its military operations in Lebanon will not be withdrawn or halted, even with increased friction with the United States.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Iran launched an attack on "enemy bases" in the Persian Gulf region after the earlier U.S. airstrikes on Iranian radar stations.

"Following the invasion by the child-killing and terrorist American forces in Sirik and Qeshm Island, enemy bases in the region were attacked by missiles," the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported the IRGC as saying.

International crude oil prices have fallen back despite the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and the apparent lack of progress on a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for energy exports.

West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery fell 2.7% to settle at $90.54 a barrel in New York. North Sea Brent crude for August delivery fell 2% to $93.09 a barrel in London.

AFP reporters said that after the U.S. attack on Iran, explosions were heard in Kuwait and Bahrain early on the 6th. Multiple explosions were reported in the area near Kuwait International Airport, and the Kuwaiti military announced it was responding to "enemy" missile and drone attacks.

The Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on the 4th rejected a new ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon, and Israel also said it would not withdraw its troops from Lebanon. This has frustrated U.S. President Trump's efforts to stop the fighting there and reach a peace deal with Iran.

Iran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon a condition for any peace agreement with the United States. Tehran also recently hinted that it might intervene directly if Israel continues its attacks on Lebanon.

However, in the latest development, the ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. between Israel and the Lebanese government was rejected by Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, although Hezbollah was never a party to the negotiations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a media interview, criticized Iran for using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its war with the United States and Israel. He also demanded that Tehran stop interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs.

In an interview with CNN, Aoun said the Lebanese people are "tired" of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.