The United States on Tuesday (local time) carried out military strikes on Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz after an American Army Apache helicopter was allegedly brought down during a patrol mission, marking a sharp escalation in already fragile tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The operation, publicly confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), is the first announced military action directly linked to the Apache helicopter incident and comes at a time when President Donald Trump has simultaneously been pushing for a diplomatic resolution to the broader conflict in West Asia.
CENTCOM said American forces conducted the strikes on June 9 under orders from President Trump. According to the military, US Air Force and Navy fighter jets targeted Iranian air defence systems, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz using precision-guided munitions.
“CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets,” the command said in a statement.
The military described the action as a measured response to recent attacks on US personnel and commercial shipping operating in regional waters.
“The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” CENTCOM said, adding that American forces remain prepared to counter what it termed “unjustified Iranian aggression”.
Trump says US responded ‘in a strong manner’
President Trump defended the military action, saying the United States was compelled to respond after the helicopter incident.
Speaking to ABC News, Trump said the US was reacting “in a strong manner” after “what they did with our helicopter last night”.
“And I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” he said.
Earlier, Trump had stated on social media that Iran had shot down one of America’s advanced Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the President, both pilots survived the incident without injuries.
Pentagon had earlier confirmed helicopter crash
The strikes followed a Pentagon statement that an AH-64 Apache helicopter had gone down near the coast of Oman on June 8. At the time, US authorities said the cause of the incident was under investigation and did not publicly attribute it to hostile action.
CENTCOM officials later confirmed that both crew members were rescued within roughly two hours through an operation involving US Naval Forces Central Command, the 82nd Airborne Division, Air Force and Navy units. A naval surface drone was also reportedly used during the rescue effort.
The Apache incident marks the second loss of a crewed American military aircraft during the current conflict, following the downing of an F-15 fighter jet in April.
Explosions reported across southern Iran
As news of the strikes emerged, reports of explosions surfaced from multiple locations in southern Iran.
According to Al Jazeera, loud blasts were heard in Jask and Bandar Abbas. Iran’s Tasnim news agency also reported explosions on Qeshm Island, while additional incidents were reported in Sirik.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that two water tanks in the Bemani district of Sirik were destroyed during the strikes. The full extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Iran warns against further military action
Iran responded swiftly to the US operation, warning that any attack would be met with retaliation.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media that Iran’s armed forces would not leave threats unanswered.
“Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination. Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe,” he wrote.
Araghchi also renewed Tehran’s demand for the withdrawal of foreign military assets from the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters.
“The Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters but shared between Iran and Oman,” he said.
He further argued that foreign military deployments near Iranian territory increased the risk of accidents, miscalculations and conflict.
“To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave. We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too,” he added.
Strait of Hormuz remains a global flashpoint
The latest exchange threatens a ceasefire that has largely held since April and raises fresh concerns about stability in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments, making any military confrontation in the region closely watched by governments and energy markets worldwide.
The developments also come amid continuing unrest elsewhere in the region. On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese city of Tyre reportedly killed at least 11 people, adding to fears that the conflict could widen further.