'Proportional Response To Aggression': US Launches Strikes On Iran After Apache Downing

Published 9 June 2026 · world

'Proportional Response To Aggression': US Launches Strikes On Iran After Apache Downing Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 02:56 IST News18 The United States has launched

'Proportional Response To Aggression': US Launches Strikes On Iran After Apache Downing Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 02:56 IST News18 The United States has launched military strikes against Iran in response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). In a post on social media, CENTCOM said US forces began carrying out what it described as “self-defense strikes" at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday on the orders of President Donald Trump. The military said the operation was a direct response to what it called Iran’s role in bringing down the helicopter a day earlier. “US 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 US Army Apache helicopter," the statement said.

“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression." CENTCOM did not immediately disclose the targets of the operation, the extent of the strikes or whether any damage assessments were available. The announcement marks a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran following Monday’s helicopter incident. President Trump had earlier accused Iran of shooting down an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter during a patrol mission over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed that the United States would respond. The helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman, but both crew members survived and were rescued in a first-of-its-kind operation involving a US Navy unmanned surface vessel. Before Trump’s statement, US military officials had said the cause of the crash remained under investigation. The president later said he had been informed by military commanders that Iranian forces were responsible for the aircraft’s loss.

The latest military action comes despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region. Earlier this week, Trump said negotiations involving Iran and Israel were in their “final throes" and suggested a broader agreement could be reached within days. Iran has not yet officially responded to CENTCOM’s announcement. However, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had earlier warned that foreign military forces operating near Iranian territory faced risks and argued that the best way to reduce tensions was for them to leave the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, carrying a substantial share of global oil shipments and serving as a critical corridor for international trade. The situation remains fluid, with further details on the US operation and any potential Iranian response expected in the coming hours.