Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

Jun 8, 2026

Iran and Israel Trade Missiles for First Time Since April Ceasefire; Trump Claims "Total Victory" Near

Iran fired approximately 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on June 7–8, 2026 — the first such attack since an April 8 ceasefire — after Israel launched airstrikes on Lebanon. Israel retaliated with strikes on central and western Iran before both sides announced a halt to hostilities on Day 100–101 of the Iran war. Trump publicly called for an "immediate ceasefire" while privately warning Netanyahu he might be "left alone," and declared "total victory" would come within two weeks. JD Vance acknowledged that US and Israeli interests had "diverged" in the conflict, and Trump told the Financial Times "I call the shots. I call all the shots. He [Netanyahu] doesn't call the shots."

Iran Fires Missiles and Drones at US Bases in Kuwait and Bahrain Despite Nominal Ceasefire

Iran launched seven ballistic missiles and multiple one-way attack drones at US military installations in Kuwait (Ali Al Salem Air Base) and Bahrain (5th Fleet headquarters) on June 2–3, 2026. All missiles were intercepted or missed their targets; no US personnel were killed. Iran said the strikes were retaliation after the US disabled an oil tanker heading to an Iranian port and struck a communications tower on Qeshm Island. US Central Command conducted "self-defense strikes" on Iranian radar and ground control sites. Kuwait International Airport was also struck, killing one Indian national and injuring 63, with significant damage to a passenger terminal. The attacks occurred while a nominal ceasefire from April remained nominally in effect, with Secretary of State Rubio insisting Operation Epic Fury was "over" even as exchanges of fire continued. The escalation accelerated congressional war-powers pressure; the House passed a war powers resolution 215–208 days later.

Trump Brokers 3-Day Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Ahead of Victory Day

On May 8–9, 2026, President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 3-day ceasefire (May 9–11), coinciding with Russia's Victory Day commemorations, along with a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. Trump called it potentially "the beginning of the end" of the four-year war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The ceasefire largely failed to hold — both sides accused the other of violations, with Russia's Defense Ministry claiming over 23,000 Ukrainian violations and Ukraine reporting Russian drone and artillery strikes on civilian areas of Kharkiv and Kherson that killed at least two people on May 11. The Congressional Ukraine Caucus — co-chaired by Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Quigley (D-IL), Kaptur (D-OH), and Wilson (R-SC) — had backed Ukraine's ceasefire proposal in the days before the announcement, calling on Russia to demonstrate good faith.