The United States military has launched "self-defence" strikes against Iran in response to the downing of an American Army Apache helicopter. The US Central Command confirmed that its forces began the strikes at 5pm local time on Tuesday, describing the action as a proportional response to what it called unjustified Iranian aggression.
Incident Details
The escalation follows the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter near the coast of Oman. American officials linked the incident to an Iranian drone. President Donald Trump, in a statement on Truth Social, said he was informed that Iranians shot down one of the highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the response should be very strong and powerful.
Both pilots aboard the helicopter were safely rescued, Trump confirmed. The helicopter incident is now under scrutiny in Washington, with US officials assessing the circumstances. Two US officials familiar with Pentagon assessments indicated that the Apache was brought down by a drone believed to be Iranian.
Retaliatory Strikes
The US Central Command stated, "The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression." Explosions were reported in the Iranian coastal city of Sirik, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency. US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who was in the Situation Room with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, said he was notified before the strikes. He described the action as proportional and limited.
Iranian Response
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X that Iran would "leave no attack or threat unanswered." In an earlier post, he warned foreign forces operating near Iranian territory, stating they are at constant risk due to human errors, accidents, or crossfire. He emphasized that the best solution is for them to leave, adding that while Iran prefers diplomacy, it speaks other languages too.
Context and Ongoing Developments
Washington has not released further operational details about the targets struck. President Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran and the United States are close to an agreement, though progress has been limited since a tenuous ceasefire took effect in early April. Trump told reporters that a deal would take "two or three days." This is a developing news story with more to come.
