Iran retaliates against US strikes, closes Strait of Hormuz
via GhanaWeb3 min read
The United States launched new strikes on multiple targets in Iran under President Donald Trump's orders, leading to Iranian retaliation against US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait, and two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military stated the strikes were in response to Iran’s continued aggression. Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and in the cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, with blasts also hitting Kargan, injuring at least two people. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC accused the US of repeated violations of their April ceasefire and announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, affecting all traffic including oil tankers and commercial vessels. The IRGC also claimed two oil tankers attempting to pass illegally were hit, and reported drone strikes on Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base and Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base and Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base. This escalation follows an exchange of strikes over the downing of a US Apache helicopter. President Trump accused Iran of stalling peace deal negotiations and threatened to hit the country "very hard," including potential strikes on power plants and bridges. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian responded on X, stating that threats to critical infrastructure are a sign of desperation and that Iran would stand firm. The US-Iran escalation occurs days after Israel and Iran also exchanged fire, and progress on a peace deal remains slow, with Iran demanding the release of frozen asse
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Must ReadAttacks on foreign nationals in South Africa persist, leading to evacuations by countries like Ghana and Nigeria. Despite calls from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to cease these actions, citizens continue to target and seize businesses owned by foreign nationals. A video shared by Moreboys Munetsie shows a group of South African women celebrating as they forcibly enter a salon in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly owned by a Ghanaian. The video depicts the women singing and embracing after gaining entry. The individual who shared the video stated that not only are shops being taken over, but personal documents, phones, and handbags are also being seized from foreign nationals.
Professor Isaac Owusu Mensah, Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana, has called for state funding of political parties, emphasizing their crucial role as vehicles for democratic change. Speaking at a study presentation on Ghana’s democratic trajectory, he highlighted that while Ghanaians remain committed to democracy and the ability to change governments through elections, there is growing dissatisfaction with corruption and the economic performance of democratic governments. The study, conducted across all regions and 107 constituencies, found that despite public admiration for some West African military leaders, Ghanaians value democratic governance. Professor Owusu Mensah argued that the state must actively support political parties, suggesting a review of the country’s Elections Fund to provide financial aid, managed jointly by the Majority Leader and the Minister for Finance. Anna Lena Sabroso Wasserfall, Country Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung KAS Ghana, noted the timeliness of the study given recent military takeovers in West Africa and global concerns about democratic backsliding, stressing the importance of understanding public perceptions to strengthen democratic resilience.
Two Ghanaian citizens, Barbara Twum and Jennifer Owusu, have petitioned President John Dramani Mahama regarding alleged sexually suggestive remarks attributed to Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene. The petition, dated June 10, 2026, claims a Facebook post by the minister, directed at former National Youth Authority Deputy CEO Akosua Manu, contained sexually explicit and degrading language. The petitioners argue that these remarks constitute sexual harassment, violate professional standards, and breach the Presidential Code of Conduct and Ethics 2025, specifically rules on civility, respect, and the duty of public officers to treat citizens with dignity. They contend that such language creates a hostile environment for women in public life and undermines constitutional principles of equality. The petition requests the presidency to investigate the matter, issue a formal written reprimand to the minister, and consider terminating his appointment. The Office of the President has not yet publicly responded to the petition.