BREAKING: US Military Launches Wave Of Strikes On Iran Over Apache Helicopter Downing
The United States on Tuesday launched a new wave of military strikes against Iran, describing the operation as a response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter off the coast of Oman a day earlier.
In a post on social media, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began at 5 p.m. EDT and were carried out as “self-defense strikes.”
According to the command, the attacks were a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”
A US official told CNN that the latest operation was intended to serve as a warning to Iran and that Washington does not believe the strikes will derail ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Sources familiar with the operation told CNN that the initial strikes targeted Iranian air defense and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway critical to global energy supplies.
One of the sources said additional strikes were expected.
The military action follows the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter on Monday. According to a source familiar with the incident, the aircraft was struck by an Iranian Shahed drone.
However, a US official said it remains unclear whether the drone deliberately targeted the helicopter or whether the strike was accidental.
US President Donald Trump said the two pilots aboard the Apache were not injured, adding that they were rescued by an uncrewed US drone boat after the aircraft went down.
The Apache helicopter has played a significant role in the conflict, particularly in efforts to intercept and destroy Iranian drones.
Used by the United States and regional allies including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the aircraft is equipped with a 30-millimeter chain gun and rockets that military analysts regard as a cost-effective tool against drone threats.
The latest strikes mark another escalation in the conflict between Washington and Tehran, even as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and broader peace agreement continue.
