Timeline: U.S.-Iran-Israel tit-for-tat attacks spiral into worst escalation since April ceasefire

CAIRO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply in recent days following a series of military exchanges involving Israel, Iran, and the United States, marking the most serious escalation since a ceasefire between the relevant parties in April.

The following is a timeline of key developments in the latest escalation.

June 7:

-- The Israeli air force launched a series of airstrikes on the southern suburb of Lebanon's capital Beirut "in response" to Hezbollah fire toward Israel.

-- Iran launched several waves of missiles against Israel, including the Ramat David Air Base in northern Israel, in retaliation for the Israeli strikes on Beirut, marking Iran's first direct attack on Israel since the April ceasefire. Israel later admitted that the Ramat David Air Base was hit by missile fragments.

-- U.S. President Donald Trump said he would urge Israel not to retaliate and called for restraint.

June 8:

-- Israel carried out strikes on several targets in Iran, including a petrochemical company in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, in response to missile attacks launched by Tehran a day earlier.

-- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps targeted Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof air bases as well as certain industries.

-- Iran and Israel later said they had halted attacks against each other.

June 9:

-- The United States launched strikes on Iranian air defense, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz following the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter.

June 10:

-- U.S. forces carried out additional strikes on multiple targets in Iran.

-- Iran launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, in retaliation for the U.S. attacks.

-- Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

June 11:

-- Trump said the United States would hit Iran "very hard tonight" and would soon take control of the country's oil and gas infrastructure.

-- Later in the day, Trump said he has canceled scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran, citing progress in ongoing negotiations. He also told reporters at the White House that a deal with Iran could be signed in Europe over the weekend.

-- Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, citing an informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team, said that Iran has approved no draft for a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the United States on ending the war, but that as the United States has accepted Iran's proposed text, "the likelihood of the agreement being approved by Tehran's highest decision-making authorities is relatively high." Enditem