Middle East War Day 101: Trump Calls Israeli PM After Israel-Iran Exchange of Fire, Latest Developments

On the 101st day of the joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran, a White House official stated that US President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. Netanyahu said that Israel's airstrikes on Iran had prevented further Iranian attacks, leading to a cessation of hostilities between the two countries.

Here is a compilation of the latest developments in the Middle East war from AFP and other foreign news agencies.

Iran launched missiles at Israel last night, and Israel retaliated by targeting Iranian military sites, raising fears of a new all-out conflict.

Israel stated today that its forces struck a petrochemical plant in southwestern Iran and conducted airstrikes on other military targets, including dismantling air defense systems deployed in various parts of Iran. This marks the first attack on an energy facility inside Iran since the April 8 ceasefire.

Earlier today, President Trump posted on social media, "Israel and Iran must immediately stop 'firing'."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he told Trump that Israel reserves the right to take self-defense actions against Iran at any time. He also warned, "If Iran makes the mistake of attacking us again, we will retaliate with full force."

Trump said that a new wave of conflict between Israel and Iran would not affect the peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The US military announced today that it had disabled an unladen oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman because the vessel was attempting to sail to an Iranian port, violating ongoing US blockade measures against Iran.

The US Central Command said that after the crew failed to follow US military instructions, an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln fired precision munitions at the tanker's engine room and steering gear room. The Palau-flagged tanker, M/T Marivex, is no longer heading towards Iran.

Iran warned today that a renewed conflict in the Middle East would affect its ongoing peace consultations with the United States.

Tehran authorities stated that the United States is responsible for the resumption of fire between Iran and Israel, claiming that Israeli actions are "inseparable from US policy."

However, the Iranian side also emphasized that even if fighting with Israel resumes, Pakistan's mediation efforts to end the US-Iran war are still ongoing.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said they had shown restraint for weeks until yesterday when they responded with a missile attack to Israel's military actions inside Lebanon.

Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said the attack was just a "warning" and that if Israel launches a similar attack again, Iran's response will be further expanded to include more targets in the region.

Additionally, Iran's ambassador to Russia, Jalali, said today that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened, but under new conditions set by Iran and Oman, including the collection of passage fees.

After a brief exchange of fire between Israel and Iran, both sides expressed their intention to avoid further escalation, which helped to moderate the rise in international oil prices today.

West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose slightly by 76 cents, or 0.84%, to $91.30 per barrel.

London's Brent crude for August delivery rose by $1.16, or 1.25%, to $94.25 per barrel.

As investors assessed the impact of easing tensions in the Middle East and engaged in bargain hunting, chip stocks rebounded today, leading a rally on Wall Street. Most major US stock indexes closed higher today, recovering some of last week's losses. European stock markets were volatile today, with most major indexes closing lower.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen today announced a missile attack on Israel and a ban on Israeli ships sailing in the Red Sea, casting a shadow of another potentially serious disruption over the vital waterway.

In a statement, the Houthi armed forces said, "We announce a full and complete ban on the navigation of Israeli ships in the Red Sea. From the moment this statement is issued, we will consider all enemy actions as legitimate military targets for our armed forces."

The Houthis joined the current Middle East war in March in support of Iran. However, since a fragile ceasefire agreement took effect on April 8, the Houthis had not announced any missile launches at Israel.

Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa said today that since the US announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon on April 16, Israel has launched nearly 3,500 airstrikes and conducted hundreds of demolition operations against the country.

Although the ceasefire agreement has largely halted airstrikes on Beirut and its suburbs, it has failed to end the fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Menassa stated in a cabinet meeting that from April 17 to June 7, Israel launched 3,491 airstrikes, 407 demolition operations, and conducted 6 "leveling" operations in southern Lebanon, completely destroying several villages in the narrow southernmost strip of Lebanon.