Understanding in One Article: US-Iran Clash Resurfaces, Situation "In Dynamic Change"

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 10 - On the morning of the 10th Beijing time, explosions were heard in multiple locations in Iran again. The U.S. military stated that it conducted "defensive strikes" against Iran in response to the incident of a U.S. military aircraft being shot down. Iran subsequently responded to the U.S. military actions, "vigorously striking" U.S. military bases in the Middle East. U.S. media reported that the U.S. military targeted 20 sites in Iran, while Iran claimed to have successfully struck 21 U.S. military targets in the Middle East.

Below is the timeline of the exchange of fire:

At approximately 5:18 AM Beijing time on the 10th, the U.S. Central Command posted on social media that the U.S. military began "defensive strikes" against Iran at 5 PM Eastern Time on the 9th, in response to the incident where an "Apache" armed helicopter was shot down by Iran.

Iranian media subsequently reported explosions in the southern region of Sirik and on Qeshm Island. Around 8 AM Beijing time on the 10th, several explosions were heard near the southern port of Abbas and the Sirik area. Additionally, suspected explosions were reported in the southwestern city of Ahvaz.

CNN reported, citing sources, that the initial airstrike targets of the U.S. military were the air defense and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz, with more airstrikes expected. Axios news website quoted a senior U.S. official stating that the U.S. military launched three rounds of attacks on Iran's air defense and radar systems.

At approximately 8:50 AM Beijing time on the 10th, the Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued statements saying that in response to the U.S. military's "aggression" against southern Iran under the pretext of a U.S. helicopter crash, Iran conducted "vigorous strikes" on U.S. military bases in the Middle East. The Central Headquarters warned in the statement that if the U.S. military infringes on Iran again, Iran will carry out "more intense and extensive" strikes on predetermined targets in the Middle East.

The public relations department of the IRGC stated in a statement that the U.S. attacked multiple locations in Iran under "false pretenses," resulting in damage to a telecommunications tower in the Sirik area and the destruction of two reservoirs. In response to the "evil actions of the enemy," the IRGC launched drone strikes against U.S. Fifth Fleet facilities located in Bahrain.

The IRGC also stated that Iran "intercepted and destroyed" an MQ-9 "Reaper" drone in Bushehr Province and conducted missile strikes on a U.S. military base located in Jordan.

At approximately 9 AM Beijing time on the 10th, the U.S. Central Command issued a statement saying that it had completed its "defensive strikes" against Iran. The statement said that U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft precisely struck Iran's air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radars near the Strait of Hormuz. "This is a proportional response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international merchant vessels passing through the region's waters."

Fox News reported that a senior U.S. official stated that the U.S. military struck 20 targets within Iran that day. Although the U.S. Central Command announced that the strikes had ended, the situation remains "dynamic." If Iran retaliates, the U.S. military is prepared to respond.

At approximately 9:28 AM Beijing time on the 10th, the Bahrain Ministry of Interior announced on social media that Bahrain had sounded its air defense alarm.

Subsequently, the IRGC issued another statement, claiming it successfully struck 21 targets of the U.S. Air Force and Navy bases in the Middle East, "striking and destroying" four key targets at the U.S. military base in Azraq, Jordan, including command and control centers and F-35 hangars.

Axios news website reported that Iran launched at least four missiles and several drones at U.S. military bases located in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

The Kuwaiti military issued a statement saying that the country's air defense systems were intercepting "enemy" aerial targets. The Jordanian armed forces also stated that they intercepted and shot down five missiles fired from Iran towards Azraq, with no reports of casualties or property damage.