New Delhi, June 10: The United States launched retaliatory strikes against Iran after an American Army Apache helicopter was brought down near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Announcing the operation, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces began carrying out strikes at 5 p.m. US Eastern Time on the orders of President Donald Trump.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
According to reports, the strikes targeted Iranian air defence and radar systems in southern Iran. US news outlet Axios, citing a US official, reported that several defence-related installations were hit during the operation.
The military action follows the June 8 incident in which a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while conducting a patrol mission in regional waters.
Earlier, CENTCOM said the helicopter’s two crew members were safely rescued. “On June 8, two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters. The Soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” the command said.
The rescue operation was led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from US Air Force and Navy units, including the US Fifth Fleet’s Task Force 59.
President Donald Trump defended the decision to launch the strikes, saying the United States needed to respond to the attack.“have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
In an interview with ABC News, Trump said the retaliation would be “very strong, very powerful,” adding, “We are responding as we speak. This is a response to what they did with our helicopter last night.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported explosions and air-defence activity along the Persian Gulf coast, including in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Sirik.
Iran reacted strongly to the strikes, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warning that Tehran would retaliate. “Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination. Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” Araghchi said in a post on X.
He further warned: “Leave our region if you want to be safe.”
The latest confrontation marks a significant escalation in tensions in the Gulf region, raising concerns about a broader military conflict involving US and Iranian forces.
