US-Israel strike Tehran airports and university as Trump deadline looms
Confidence: HIGH (88/100) | April 06, 2026 |
timesofisrael.com
In one sentence: US-Israeli airstrikes killed more than 25 people across Iran on April 6, as Trump threatened power-plant strikes if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday night.
Why it matters: The strikes mark a new phase of targeting civilian-adjacent infrastructure — airports, universities, petrochemical hubs — as Trump's self-imposed Tuesday deadline for Strait reopening forces a decision point that could trigger the largest escalation yet. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since March 4, cutting off roughly 20% of global oil supplies in what analysts describe as the largest energy disruption since the 1970s, with Brent crude near $109 a barrel and food, fertilizer, and jet fuel costs surging globally. Iran formally rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal floated by Egyptian, Pakistani, and Turkish mediators, signaling no imminent off-ramp.
What Happened Today
- US and Israeli forces carried out a wave of airstrikes on April 6 that killed more than 25 people in Iranian cities, with a strike near Eslamshar, southwest of Tehran, killing at least 13 people, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency, and five more killed in Qom and six in other cities, per state-run IRAN daily.
- Dozens of Israeli Air Force jets hit Iranian aircraft and military infrastructure at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport and two smaller airstrips, and separately bombed runways, control towers, and an IRGC Quds Force drone factory, the IDF announced.
- The IRGC's intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, was killed in one of the Tehran strikes, confirmed by both Iranian state media and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who vowed to keep targeting senior Iranian officials.
- Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel — hitting Haifa, where four people were found dead in a residential building, and striking Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv — while Kuwait and the UAE activated air defenses against incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
- Iran formally conveyed its rejection of a 45-day ceasefire proposal to the US via Pakistan, insisting instead on a permanent end to the war, lifted sanctions, and guaranteed Strait of Hormuz passage protocols, IRNA reported.
Contested Claims
- AP, reporting from Dubai: An airstrike hit the grounds of Tehran's Sharif University of Technology, damaging buildings and a gas distribution site; Israel sanctioned the university for ballistic missile research links. Iranian state media via AP: Iranian authorities said the university itself was targeted as a civilian academic institution, with all students already displaced by the war.
- Trump, via Reuters/AP pool: Trump said 'just about everything's been knocked out' and Iran has no navy, air force, air detection, or radar. IDF, Kuwait defense ministry, UAE air defense — reported by AP and Times of Israel: Iran continues to launch missile and drone waves against Israel, Gulf states, and commercial shipping, demonstrating ongoing offensive capability.
Unverified / Single Source
- (Unverified — single state-media sourced claim, not independently corroborated by wire agencies) Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran was struck on April 5, bringing the total number of universities hit to more than 30. [Iranian Minister of Science, via Wikipedia citing Iranian state media]
- (Unverified — state media only, not independently verified) Iran has damaged at least 120 historical sites due to US-Israeli strikes, as of March 27. [Iranian government, via Wikipedia]
Key Figures
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| People killed in Iran by airstrikes on April 6 alone | More than 25 | AP, confirmed via Fars news agency and IRAN daily newspaper |
| Total people killed in Iran since war began (Feb. 28) | More than 1,900 | AP, citing Iranian government figures as of early April |
| Brent crude oil price | Above $109 per barrel | TheStreet, citing analyst reports as of April 5, 2026 |
| Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic decline | Down more than 90% from pre-war levels | Lloyd's List Intelligence via Al Jazeera |
| Brent crude monthly price increase (March 2026) | +60% — record monthly increase | Reuters analysis, April 6, 2026 |
| Iraqi oil revenue decline (March 2026) | -76%, to $1.73 billion | Reuters, citing Iraqi state oil marketer SOMO |
| People killed in Haifa by Iranian missile strike | 4 dead confirmed in residential building rubble | Israeli authorities, AP |
| People displaced in Lebanon | More than 1 million | AP |
| US jet fuel cost increase since war began | +95% | Argus US Jet Fuel index, cited by Time magazine |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Trump threatening to bomb Iran's power plants? Trump set a Monday-night Washington deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening attacks on power plants and bridges if Tehran refuses. The Strait has been effectively closed since March 4, cutting off about 20% of global oil supply and sending energy prices to their highest level in years.
Is there any ceasefire deal being discussed for the Iran war? Egyptian, Pakistani, and Turkish mediators proposed a 45-day ceasefire to both Iran and the US late Sunday, April 5. Iran formally rejected it on April 6, conveying its response via Pakistan and insisting instead on a permanent end to the war, sanctions relief, and Strait access guarantees, IRNA reported.
How is the Iran war affecting global oil and energy prices? Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since March 4 has cut off roughly 20% of global oil and LNG supplies. Brent crude surged 60% in March alone — a record monthly jump — and remains above $109 a barrel. Jet fuel costs have nearly doubled, and fertilizer prices have risen 50%, threatening food supplies into 2027, per Reuters and Bloomberg.
Background
The United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, under what Israel called Operation Epic Fury, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and targeting nuclear sites, military infrastructure, and command centers. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz to most shipping, firing missiles at Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases, and attacking commercial vessels. The conflict, now in its sixth week, has killed more than 1,900 people in Iran and over 1,400 in Lebanon, where Israel is simultaneously fighting Hezbollah.
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