U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters today that in the wake of overnight attacks between the U.S. and Iran, strikes on Iran will continue. Meanwhile, Iranian officials say they are “reviewing” whether to continue peace talks after one of the most serious exchanges of fire between the two nations since the April 8 ceasefire.
The latest round of attacks and counterattacks touched off after U.S. Central Command launched three waves of strikes on targets in southern Iran in retaliation for what Trump said was Iran’s downing of an AH-64 Apache helicopter, reportedly by an Iranian Shahed drone. Iran denied attacking the Apache. You can read more about that incident here.
Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters: Iran Delivers Powerful Response to US Onslaughthttps://t.co/5CvDlDqlc9 pic.twitter.com/4sdTjd31Bk
— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) June 10, 2026
Though damage assessments are still ongoing in the wake of Iranian missiles and drones launched across the Middle East overnight, a U.S. official told TWZ Wednesday morning that so far, there have been no injuries among U.S. personnel reported and no indication yet of any damage to American installations. That’s despite Iranian claims to the contrary.
“Iran launched multiple missiles and drones and just about all were intercepted according to initial reflections from assessments that are ongoing,” the official told us, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. “No reports of harm to any U.S. personnel; not aware of any damage to our locations at this time.”
However, as we have noted in the past, similar U.S. assessments during the height of Epic Fury were later contradicted by reports of wide-spread damage from Iranian attacks.
Iranian officials said they again launched attacks on the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, as well as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and targets in Kuwait.
Several videos emerging overnight claimed to show missile interceptions and explosions resulting from the latest Iranian kinetic actions.
Some showed missile interceptions over Muwaffaq Salti. As we have frequently noted, the base has been a major staging area for U.S. airpower in the region. It came under Iranian attack before the ceasefire, with an AN/TPY-2 missile defense radar there having been notably targeted.
Footage shows air defense interceptors engaging incoming Iranian ballistic missiles over Jordan.
— Egypt's Intel Observer (@EGYOSINT) June 10, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it targeted Jordan’s Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, along with 20 other U.S. military sites across the region. pic.twitter.com/RxKHsNaQur
Additional video shows what appears to be an explosion in the distance as viewed from a CCTV camera in Manama in the wake of a claimed Iranian missile launch at Fifth Fleet headquarters. The extent of the damage, if any, is unknown.
CCTV footage shows an explosion in Bahrain’s capital Manama after what authorities say was an Iranian missile strike.
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) June 10, 2026
Iran’s IRGC says it hit US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in retaliatory attacks for US strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/4eKzhBa1np
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-connected Tasnim News Agency also posted a video it claims shows an attack on the Fifth Fleet. The short video shows what appears to be an explosion in the distance and again, there is no way to tell what, if any damage, was caused.
— اخبار فوری جنگ (@WarNewsIr) June 10, 2026
ویدئوی منتشرشده در منابع عربی از اصابت به پایگاه آمریکا در بحرین pic.twitter.com/fW37dLXui6
The Kuwaiti Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned the latest Iranian strikes and said the nation “reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to preserve its security and defend its territories and vital facilities, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.”
بيان صادر عن وزارة الخارجية
— وزارة الخارجية (@MOFAKuwait) June 10, 2026
الأربعاء 10 يونيو 2026
تُعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة دولة الكويت واستنكارها وبأشد العبارات، استمرار الاعتداءات الإيرانية الآثمة والمتكررة على دولة الكويت، والتي كان آخرها اليوم، في تصعيد جديد يُضاف إلى سلسلة الاعتداءات الإيرانية المتواصلة، ويُعد… pic.twitter.com/7H1TFQNqMv
Iran said its latest volley of kinetic actions were in response to what U.S. officials say were strikes on 20 Iranian targets in response to the helicopter downing.
The United States and Iran traded strikes overnight.
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) June 10, 2026
20 Iranian targets were hit by U.S. forces, including air defense systems and radar sites.
Iran responded with missiles and drones toward Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. pic.twitter.com/vl3fK4bO85
This latest flurry of strikes prompted comments about the future of diplomacy from both sides.
During a morning press conference, Trump said “we hit ’em hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit ’em again hard today, in case you miss it, in case you don’t turn on your television set, and we’ll see what happens with the deal.”
.@POTUS on Iran: "We hit them hard yesterday and we're going to hit them again hard today… And we'll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal — but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers because you know what? They dealt with some… pic.twitter.com/ScvGn14QFQ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2026
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump told Fox News that there may be additional U.S. attacks that focus on “Iranian power plants and bridges.”
NEW: President Trump tells me he "may keep going" with strikes against Iran and is getting closer to targeting Iranian power plants and bridges.
— Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) June 10, 2026
The President also spoke about the U.S. military helicopter that was downed saying that an Iranian drone lodged between the two… pic.twitter.com/j5aQEIzi9s
The president’s comments to Fox follow statements he made on his social media outlet saying Iran has taken too long to agree to a peace deal.
“Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore – They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!”
Trump did not elaborate on what that price may be.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2026
As we noted earlier in this story, Iran is reassessing the future of diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the US-Israeli war against the country, according to the official Iranian IRNA news outlet.
“We have to review it,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told IRNA. “Diplomacy and the battlefield are not separate matters; rather, they run alongside and complement each other in safeguarding Iran’s interests and security.”
Baqaei stressed that Iran’s military and diplomatic tracks operate in coordination.
“Wherever the Armed Forces deem it necessary, they respond to the enemy with authority and strength, and last night’s events showed that Iran’s brave Armed Forces do not hesitate in defending the country,” he posited.
ایرانی وزارت خارجہ کے ترجمان اسماعیل بقائی کا کہنا ہے کہ حملوں کے بعد امریکا کے ساتھ مذاکرات کا ازسرنو جائزہ لے رہے ہیں، امریکا اور اسرائیل بار بار جنگ بندی کی خلاف ورزی کررہے ہیں۔
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) June 10, 2026
انہوں نے کہا کہ مذاکرات کو آگے بڑھانے کیلئے پرسکون ماحول بہت ضروری ہے، بدقسمتی سے واشنگٹن کے… pic.twitter.com/1nGcYA3fmN
Despite the flare-up in fighting and posturing by both sides, negotiations appear to be continuing.
“Following consultations with the United States, Qatari negotiators headed to Tehran this morning to meet with the Iranians in an attempt to bridge the remaining gaps,” CNN reported on its Arabic channel, citing a source. “The visit indicates that diplomacy remains active, despite an exchange of fire between Iran and the United States overnight—marking one of the most significant tests of the ceasefire to date. A US official told CNN that the United States believes these strikes will not derail the negotiations.”
مصدر دبلوماسي لـCNN: مفاوضون قطريون توجهوا صباح الأربعاء إلى طهران لسد الفجوات المتبقية مع أمريكا https://t.co/IIkMnAmHkt
— CNN بالعربية (@cnnarabic) June 10, 2026
At issue remains the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal and support for proxies and the easing of U.S. sanctions. Whether the increased fighting between the two sides will derail these efforts remains an open question.
Iran claims it downed another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone overnight. While TWZ can’t verify that, we have noted that the loss of dozens of these drones to Iran and the Houthis have forced the U.S. Air Force to scramble for replacements.
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) June 10, 2026
لحظهٔ انهدام پهپاد MQ9 در آسمان شهرستان جم بوشهر در شب گذشته pic.twitter.com/aUe1eR5nRZ
A cargo ship came under small arms fire 88 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) monitoring organization.
“A cargo vessel has reported being approached by one craft with 6 armed persons onboard,” UKMTO explained. “There was an exchange of fire between the small craft and the cargo vessel’s Armed Security Team resulting in the small craft turning away. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
While details about who was involved are scant, this is the first attack in the region, near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, since the Houthi rebels of Yemen threatened to shut the vital waterway down in support of Iran last week. You can read more about the implications of the Iranian proxy group closing the Strait on the U.S. military and the global economy in our prior reporting here.
UKMTO WARNING 065-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) June 10, 2026
Click here to view the full warning.https://t.co/ushxdE2mx0#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/vtHpdNUm4Z
In a post on X, CENTCOM on Wednesday announced it disabled an oil tanker trying to run the blockade of Iranian ports.
The incident took place at 11:14 p.m. on June 9, when a U.S. aircraft “fired precision munitions” into the engine room of the Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman.
The ship was attempting to transport oil from Iran, the command added.
In addition to the ships it disabled, CENTCOM said it has “redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13.”
You can read more about the other seven ships hit by CENTCOM here.
CENTCOM:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 10, 2026
At 11:14 p.m. on June 9, U.S. forces disabled an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for the second consecutive day after another vessel violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disabled Palau-flagged M/T… pic.twitter.com/UkVgPoJUOt
When it comes to the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman region, Trump took to social media to say the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports has devastated Tehran’s economy.
“The Fake News Media refuses to report how EFFECTIVE the U.S. Naval BLOCKADE is, the most successful Blockade in the history of Naval Warfare,” the president proclaimed on Truth Social. “NOTHING GETS THROUGH unless we want it to. IT IS A STEEL WALL! Iran is doing ZERO business, not paying their military, or any of their bills, and quickly becoming a FAILED NATION! Lots of oil is getting out. Praise be to Allah!”
President Donald J. Trump has taken to Truth Social again decrying the "fake news media" coverage of the naval blockade of Iran saying that it is a "STEEL WALL", Iran is doing "ZERO business, not paying their military or any of their bills, and quickly becoming a FAILED NATION!"… pic.twitter.com/DcCHVebRX7
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 10, 2026
However, in a post on X, the Windward trade intelligence group said that “five Iranian-trading [liquified petroleum gas] LPG carriers have broken the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports,” Windward stated. “Four discharged in India, one in Pakistan. All five used the same playbook, spoofing and AIS blackouts to mask loading and destination. Yet all signaled their exit and/or entry through Hormuz via AIS. Three were already U.S.-sanctioned. A fourth sanctioned June 6. Two operated under false flags, making them legally stateless.”
However, the crude oil blockade is holding, Windward added.
“No Iran-trading VLCC tracked in Asia via Malacca, Sunda, or Lombok since May 4,” the organization noted.
Five Iranian-trading LPG carriers have broken the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Four discharged in India, one in Pakistan.
— Windward (@WindwardAI) June 10, 2026
All five used the same playbook, spoofing and AIS blackouts to mask loading and destination. Yet all signaled their exit and/or entry through Hormuz via… pic.twitter.com/iWBqGHSrBl
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida, today to discuss the ongoing situation with the head of that command, Adm. Brad Cooper, and engage with troops.
Secretary Hegseth will be traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Tampa, Florida today to engage with troops at GTMO and CENTCOM, per Pentagon.
— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) June 10, 2026
Despite efforts to quell the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the Israeli Air Force continues to strike targets in that country.
“Over the past day, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the area of Tyre and in several areas in southern Lebanon,” the IDF stated on Telegram.
“In the area of Tyre, the IDF struck six infrastructure sites used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to advance terror attacks against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon,” the IDF added. “Among the infrastructure struck was a site used by Hezbollah terrorists to launch explosive drones toward IDF soldiers.”
In southern Lebanon, “the IDF struck ready-to-use Launchers, terrorists who operated in the area in which IDF soldiers are operating, and additional terror infrastructure sites,” it claimed.
השמדת תשתיות טרור מהן הופעלו רחפני הנפץ נגד כוחותינו: חיל-האוויר וכוחות יחידת האיסוף 869 ממשיכים לפעול בדרום לבנון.
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 10, 2026
במהלך השבועיים האחרונים, הכוחות חיסלו בשיתוף חיל-האוויר יותר מ-20 מחבלים שפעלו לקידום מתווי טרור והיוו איום על כוחותינו. בנוסף הכוחות השמידו מספר תשתיות טרור… pic.twitter.com/Mysi9BMXHW
Hezbollah, meanwhile, attacked a gathering of Israeli troops with a missile, according to Tasnim.
Hezbollah Strikes Israeli Military Gathering with Missile pic.twitter.com/TJUCOT3lvS
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) June 10, 2026
The ongoing Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon and continuing presence in Syria has raised tensions with Turkey. Any direct conflict flaring up from the long-simmering animosity between two of the region’s most powerful militaries – though extremely unlikely – would be a far bigger deal than a dertailment of U.S.-Iran peace talks.
“We are fully aware of what the ultimate objective of the delusion of ‘Greater Israel’ is,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday, adding that Israel’s actions in Lebanon and Syria now threaten Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan:
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) June 10, 2026
Israel's attacks on Syria and Lebanon have reached a point where they also threaten Turkey.
Turkey's security begins not in Hatay, but in Aleppo, Damascus, and Beirut. pic.twitter.com/YKRqbRugQ2
The Turkish leader’s statements sparked a harsh response from Netanyahu.
“The antisemitic tyrant Erdogan, who perpetrates genocide against the Kurds, supports the terrorist organization Hamas, oppresses his own people, and imprisons political rivals, is the last one who can preach morals to the State of Israel,” the Israeli leader retorted. “The State of Israel and the IDF, the most moral army in the world, will continue to act forcefully against Iran and its proxies that threaten the Middle East and the entire world.”
הרודן האנטישמי ארדואן שמבצע רצח עם בכורדים, תומך בארגון הטרור חמאס, מדכא את בני עמו ושם בכלא יריבים פוליטיים הוא האחרון שיכול להטיף מוסר למדינת ישראל.
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 10, 2026
מדינת ישראל וצה"ל, הצבא המוסרי ביותר בעולם, ימשיכו לפעול בעוצמה נגד איראן ושלוחותיה שמאיימות על המזרח התיכון ועל העולם כולו.
The latest events in the Mideast region show that there is no immediate end in sight to the hostilities and we will continue to monitor developments here given the ongoing impacts on the U.S. military and global economy.
UPDATE: 3:01 PM EDT –
Trump claimed the price of oil will fall because of how much has been secretly moved out of the region.
“We’re taking about millions of barrels of oil,” the president told reporters Wednesday afternoon.
.@POTUS on Iran: "Did you know we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran — until right now. We took out, the other night, 22 ships." pic.twitter.com/2odiLYXDJ3
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2026
On his Truth Social, Trump claimed that last month, he “directed our Great U.S. Military to execute a secret mission to support Oil Tankers and other Commercial Ships through the Strait of Hormuz.”
“Today, I am pleased to announce that this effort has resulted in more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Strait, and into the Open Market,” he added. “More than 200 Commercial Ships have safely traveled through the Strait. This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz — NOT Iran. Their military is defeated, and their economy is lost. It’s over for Iran!”
BREAKING: President Trump says he directed the US Military to execute a “secret mission” in the Strait of Hormuz which resulted in over 100 million barrels of crude oil crossing through Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/bSYeetbHH4
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) June 10, 2026
However, TankerTrackers.com clarified that the president was referring not to Iranian oil, but Arab oil.
There is now a public misunderstanding regarding President Trump’s statement. It is not Iranian oil that he is talking about. Those are still trapped. Instead, it appears to be the secured convoys of Arab oil into the Gulf of Oman via the Strait of Hormuz. This explains why… https://t.co/fEgyzY3gnX
— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) June 10, 2026
UPDATE: 3:39 PM EDT –
Hegseth thanked troops at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida, for their efforts in the Middle East.
.@SECWAR spoke with troops at U.S. Central Command:
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) June 10, 2026
“On behalf of the President of the United States—on behalf of the American people—I want to say how proud we are of the work @CENTCOM has undertaken.” pic.twitter.com/SkDuqzS3UW
UPDATE: 4:12 PM EDT –
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) “has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation of the attack on the tanker MT Settebello,” according to the organization.
“I strongly condemn any act from any party that endangers the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping,” said Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. “This is simply unacceptable. My thoughts are with the families of the three missing seafarers and with all those awaiting news of the crew members.”
Two Indian seafarers died and one was reported missing after the attack, according to The Hindu.
Two casualties including cadet, fitter and ch engineer are reported missing…@FSUIINDIA @IMOHQ @ITFglobalunion pic.twitter.com/z8qZPYRWx1
— FSUI (@FSUIINDIA) June 10, 2026
Contact the author: howard@twz.com
The post Overnight Attacks Rattle U.S.-Iran Ceasefire (Updated) appeared first on The War Zone.
Depuis leur création, les États-Unis connaissent alternativement des périodes d'interventionnisme militaire et des moments d'isolationnisme. En apparence opposées, ces deux stratégies s'inscrivent dans une même idéologie nationaliste, célébrant l'« exceptionnalisme » américain.
Depuis la seconde guerre mondiale, la conduite de la politique extérieure des États-Unis est, dans une large mesure, indépendante de leur système politique intérieur, dans lequel deux blocs électoraux continuent de s'opposer. Les contours de ces blocs sont relativement changeants et leurs affrontements en même temps de plus en plus violents. Mais, en matière de politique étrangère, partageant les mêmes perspectives et poursuivant les mêmes objectifs, ils sont très proches l'un de l'autre. La gestion de l'empire et le gouvernement du pays lui-même constituent ainsi deux mondes distincts (1). Ce qui les sépare correspond d'une certaine façon à la différence existant dans toutes les démocraties capitalistes entre les chancelleries et les grandes entreprises, d'un côté, et, de l'autre, les citoyens ordinaires — ce qui se passe à l'étranger étant de bien plus grande conséquence pour les banquiers et les diplomates, les dirigeants de sociétés et les industriels que pour les électeurs, les réponses des premiers sont plus adaptées et plus cohérentes.
Dans le cas des États-Unis, cela procède aussi de deux traits propres au pays : le provincialisme d'un électorat qui n'a qu'une connaissance extrêmement limitée du reste du monde, et un système politique qui, en contradiction flagrante avec les intentions des Pères fondateurs, a progressivement accordé à l'exécutif un pouvoir quasiment sans entraves dans la conduite de la politique étrangère, permettant ainsi aux différentes présidences — souvent empêchées d'atteindre leurs objectifs de politique intérieure par un Congrès hostile — d'agir à l'étranger beaucoup plus librement. Dans l'espace créé par ces conditions objectives d'élaboration de la politique, il s'est développé autour de la présidence, depuis le milieu du siècle dernier, un groupe étroit de spécialistes de politique étrangère qui a son vocabulaire idéologique particulier, sans équivalent en politique intérieure : là se passe la « grande stratégie » de l'État américain dans ses relations avec le reste du monde.
L'imperium américain qui s'impose après 1945 a une longue préhistoire. Les conditions qui allaient permettre la création d'un empire étaient présentes d'emblée, fait unique, lorsque naquit le pays, dans l'Amérique du Nord de la fin du XVIIIe siècle : c'était une économie de colonisation, débarrassée des restes du Vieux Monde féodal et de ses contraintes, et installée sur un territoire continental protégé par deux océans. De là sortit la forme la plus pure du capitalisme naissant, dans le plus vaste État-nation du monde. Et cela demeura le fondement matériel solide de l'essor du pays au cours du siècle qui suivit l'indépendance. Aux avantages objectifs d'une économie et d'une géographie sans équivalents dans le monde s'ajoutait, dans la conscience américaine, la force d'un double héritage, culturel et politique : d'abord l'idée, qui remontait à la colonie puritaine primitive, d'une nation jouissant de la faveur divine, chargée d'une mission sacrée ; ensuite la conviction, née de la guerre d'Indépendance, qu'était apparue dans le Nouveau Monde une république dotée pour toujours d'une Constitution de liberté. À partir de ces quatre composantes, le nationalisme américain constitua rapidement le fonds idéologique qui lui permit de glisser en douceur à un impérialisme caractérisé par une complexio oppositorum, l'union de l'exceptionnalisme et de l'universalisme. Les États-Unis, uniques en leur genre, étaient en même temps un modèle à suivre pour le monde : un ordre sans exemple dans l'histoire, mais dont tous, à la fin, devaient suivre l'exemple.
La conviction des Pères fondateurs était que le rayonnement de la nation serait en un premier temps territorial, à l'échelle du continent américain, comme Thomas Jefferson l'exposait à James Monroe en 1801 : « Quoique nos intérêts présents puissent nous maintenir à l'intérieur de nos frontières, on ne peut pas ne pas attendre avec impatience les temps lointains où en nous multipliant nous étendrons [le rayonnement de notre nation] au-delà de ces frontières et où tout le nord voire le sud du continent se couvriront de gens parlant la même langue, gouvernés de façon semblable et par des lois semblables. » Mais, en dernière instance, ce rayonnement serait plus que territorial, il serait moral et politique. John Adams écrivait ainsi à Jefferson en 1813 : « Notre république pure, vertueuse, ayant le sens civique, fédérative, durera à jamais, elle gouvernera le monde et ouvrira à la perfection de l'homme. » Aux environs du milieu du siècle, les deux registres fusionnèrent, comme en témoigne, en 1845, la fameuse formule de John O'Sullivan sur la « destinée manifeste » des États-Unis et du droit qui s'ensuit pour les Américains « de [s']étendre et de prendre possession de tout le continent que la Providence [leur] a donné pour [leur] magnifique expérience de liberté et d'autonomie fédérée ». Car un pays « vigoureux et tout juste sorti de la main de Dieu » est investi d'une « sainte mission qui concerne les nations du monde ». Qui pouvait douter que « l'avenir immense, sans limites, [fût] le temps de la grandeur de l'Amérique » (2) ? Trois ans plus tard, la moitié du Mexique était annexée.
Depuis toujours, des voix dénoncent la mégalomanie de la « destinée manifeste »
Les frontières actuelles des États-Unis une fois atteintes pour l'essentiel, la même façon de concevoir l'avenir prit une forme plus commerciale que territoriale, qui regardait plus vers l'ouest que vers le sud. Le secrétaire d'État d'Abraham Lincoln s'adressait ainsi à ses compatriotes : « Vous êtes déjà la grande puissance continentale de l'Amérique. Mais cela vous suffit-il ? J'espère que non. Vous voulez le commerce mondial. C'est ce qu'il faut rechercher dans le Pacifique. La nation qui tire le plus de la terre, qui fabrique le plus et qui vend le plus aux pays étrangers doit être et sera la grande puissance mondiale (3). » Ce que la « destinée manifeste » et la conquête du Mexique avaient été sur terre, le commodore Matthew Perry et la politique de la porte ouverte (4) pouvaient l'être sur la mer — c'est-à-dire la perspective d'une suprématie maritime et commerciale des États-Unis en Orient, un Orient où débarqueraient en même temps le libre-échange et le christianisme. Puis vint la guerre hispano-américaine, un conflit interimpérialiste classique qui permit aux États-Unis d'acquérir des colonies dans le Pacifique et dans les Caraïbes, et de prendre pleinement leur place parmi les grandes puissances. Sous la présidence de Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909), la Colombie fut amputée d'une partie de son territoire, le Panamá, ce trait d'union entre les deux océans qui devint colonie des États-Unis ; et la race — éducation et solidarité anglo-saxonnes — s'ajouta à la religion, à la démocratie et au commerce dans la rhétorique de la nation et de sa vocation.
Tout cela n'alla jamais sans contestation. À chaque étape, des voix éloquentes s'élevèrent aux États-Unis pour dénoncer la mégalomanie de l'idée de « destinée manifeste », le pillage du Mexique, la prise d'Hawaï ou les massacres perpétrés aux Philippines, et pour s'en prendre à toutes les formes de racisme et d'impérialisme qui constituaient une trahison de l'héritage anticolonial de la république américaine. Refuser les aventures à l'étranger — annexions ou interventions —, ce n'était pas rompre avec les valeurs nationales, c'était, de façons diverses, leur être toujours fidèle. Dès le départ, l'exceptionnalisme et l'universalisme formèrent un composé potentiellement instable. Être convaincu du caractère exceptionnel des États-Unis permettait de croire qu'ils ne pourraient conserver leurs vertus exceptionnelles qu'en restant une société à l'écart d'un monde déchu. Être du côté de l'universalisme autorisait un activisme messianique — les États-Unis en sauveurs du monde. Entre ces deux pôles — « séparation » et « intervention régénératrice », pour reprendre les termes d'Anders Stephanson —, l'opinion publique eut plus d'une fois l'occasion de basculer brutalement.
(1) Pendant les campagnes présidentielles, accuser le président en exercice de faiblesse ou d'erreurs dans sa conduite de la politique étrangère est un exercice convenu. Pour l'essentiel, les nouveaux présidents reconduisent la politique de leurs prédécesseurs.
(2) Cf. Anders Stephanson, Manifest Destiny : American Expansion and the Empire of Right, Hill and Wang, New York, 1995.
(3) Ibid. L'un des grands intérêts de cet ouvrage, qui rassemble un florilège des déclarations chauvines les plus extravagantes, est qu'il donne aussi les répliques (souvent passionnées) du camp opposé.
(4) NDLR. La doctrine de la porte ouverte désigne la politique étrangère des États-Unis vis-à-vis de la Chine au tournant du XXe siècle.
A trio of major Israeli defense contractors recently delivered their final proposal dossiers for Greece’s €3 billion ($3.5 billion) ‘Achilles Shield’ program, a sophisticated, multi-layered air, anti-ballistic, and counter-drone defense network powered by cutting-edge Israeli technology.
The proposals by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), its subsidiary ELTA Systems, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, satisfy all criteria mandated by Greece’s General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (GDAEE), according to a report by newmoney.gr.
The nationwide shield stands out as one of the most critical crown jewels within Greece’s broader Long-Term Defense Procurement Program (2025–2036), which outlines an overall budget of €30 billion.
The final procurement contracts are now navigating the signature pipeline through the Ministry of National Defence (YETHA) and the General Staffs. Officials are pushing to have the program formally added to the agenda of the upcoming KYSEA session, tentatively scheduled for June 18, 2026, or the subsequent meeting in early July.
The report notes that a pivotal victory for Greek industry was securing a domestic industrial participation rate locked at a minimum of 25%, spanning both localized manufacturing and technology transfers.
The Israeli consortium has already engaged in extensive talks with domestic contractors, signing several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and strategic partnerships. Industrial analysts estimate that the final domestic footprint could realistically reach 30%, backed by fully drafted proposals to establish dedicated production lines on Greek soil.
Key examples and partners already tapped for the program include:
The architecture of the shield relies on a unified, network-centric ecosystem. It is designed to seamlessly interface with Greece’s upcoming Belharra (FDI) frigates, upgraded F-16 Viper fighters, incoming F-35 stealth jets, and existing Patriot missile batteries.
The primary systems slated for integration comprise:
The Pentagon has sharply reduced the number of religion codes used by the U.S. military, replacing a list of about 220 faith groups and denominations with 31 broader religious categories.
The updated system, which is expected to take effect in July, has sparked debate among veterans, chaplains, lawmakers, and religious groups over its potential impact on faith representation within the armed forces.
The new categories include Buddhism, Hinduism, Baha’i, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and a designation for people with no religious affiliation. Christian denominations make up most of the recognized categories.
Military officials said the change is intended to simplify record-keeping and improve data collection for military chaplains. The Pentagon explained that the revised list is not meant to determine which religions are officially approved or recognized by the government.
Service members whose faiths are not among the 31 listed categories will still be able to identify their religion and include it on military dog tags, officials said.
The policy change has drawn criticism from some veterans, former chaplains, and religious groups who argue that the consolidation could reduce the visibility of minority faiths within military records.
The Office of the Secretary of War is announcing a significant change to the Department’s categorization of religious affiliation. In a long overdue move, we reduced the list from over 200 unmanageable categories to 31. With this move, we are returning to the original intent of… https://t.co/dgHX5ytzjJ pic.twitter.com/eho537O08J
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) June 5, 2026
A former U.S. Army chaplain said that the move raises concerns about the military’s commitment to religious diversity.
“When I raised my hand to become an Army chaplain, I swore that I would support and defend the Constitution,” the former chaplain said. “The First Amendment is the free exercise of religion for everybody. That’s what I was buying into.”
The update also arrives amid broader debate over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his public use of Christian prayers while discussing military operations. Some critics have questioned whether such expressions blur the line between personal faith and official government leadership.
The revised system has also sparked concern among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Under the new classification structure, the church appears as a separate category rather than being included among the military’s Christian denominations.
That decision prompted criticism from Mike Lee, a Republican senator from Utah and a member of the church.
“Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of Christian churches?” Lee wrote on X.
Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of Christian churches? pic.twitter.com/t4u6PI29ON
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) June 6, 2026
According to an analysis, the consolidation removed separate classifications for numerous faith traditions, spiritual movements, and nonreligious belief systems. Those no longer listed individually include Eckankar, Heathen, Native American spiritual traditions, Rosicrucianism, Druidism, Deism, Asatru, Paganism, Humanism, Unitarian Universalism, Wicca, Shamanism, and Atheism, among others.
Defense Department officials have emphasized that the changes are administrative rather than ideological. Sean Parnell, a Defense Department official, said the military continues to place a high value on the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion for all service members.
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