U.S. strikes Iran after helicopter was shot down in the Strait of Hormuz

Darwin, 10 June : In the early hours of Wednesday, the U.S. military carried out strikes in Iran following the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter and vowed retaliation, casting doubt on his earlier claims that Washington and Tehran were on the verge of reaching a lasting ceasefire agreement.

The U.S. Central Command described the “defensive strikes against Iran” as a “proportionate response to Iran’s reckless aggression.” CENTCOM later announced that the operation had been completed, stating that it targeted Iranian air defense systems, ground control centers, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. forces remain vigilant and prepared to deter Iran’s reckless aggression,” a CENTCOM statement said.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out a drone attack on the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and warned of “even harsher responses” if what it called U.S. “aggression” continued. It later announced additional strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Jordan, including targeting an F-35 hangar and a command-and-control center at the Jordanian base. Jordan’s armed forces said they intercepted and shot down five missiles, while Kuwait said its air defense systems were engaging “hostile aerial targets.”

In a statement quoted by Iranian media, the IRGC said: “The warmongering U.S. government launched attacks early this morning on several locations in Jask, Sirik, and Qeshm under a false pretext, damaging a telecommunications tower in Sirik and destroying two water tanks in the city.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also threatened the United States, saying: “Our strong armed forces will not leave any attack or threat unanswered.”

“If you want to remain safe, leave our region,” he wrote on X. “The history of the Persian Gulf contains many chapters about the dire consequences for foreign intruders.”

In a phone interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump initially downplayed the incident, saying the helicopter shootdown was “not a big deal” and that “the pilot is fine.” The newspaper reported that later, under pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, Trump agreed to retaliate.