The United States has launched military strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump blamed Tehran for the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The attack threatens a fragile ceasefire agreed between the two countries in April.
Iran retaliated on Wednesday, targeting Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have struck the US al-Azraq base in Jordan with long-range missiles. Kuwait reported its air defences were active after Tehran said drones had targeted Ali Al Salem base near the Iraqi border. US officials told Reuters that nearly all missiles and drones launched by Iran were intercepted, while Jordan's armed forces said they shot down five missiles.
US Central Command said President Trump ordered the strikes, which began at 10pm UK time on Tuesday, in response to the helicopter's downing. US media, citing White House officials, reported that Centcom is targeting radar and air defence facilities along the Strait of Hormuz. Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran was responsible for the crash and that Washington could not let the event go unanswered.
A US official, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, said the helicopter collided with an Iranian drone, but it was unclear if the collision was intentional. Trump earlier claimed the helicopter had been "shot down." Centcom described the mission as "a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on social media, stating, "We will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe."
The helicopter's two crew members were rescued in an unprecedented operation using an unmanned drone boat, the US military said. Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed it was the first known drone rescue at sea by the US military. The AH-64 Apache helicopters have been used to enforce a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments.
