U.S. Launches Self-Defense Strikes Against Iran After Iran Downs U.S. Army Apache Helicopter

U.S. Central Command said Tuesday that it began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter, describing the mission as “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”

“President Donald Trump has accused Iran of shooting down a United States military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, saying that he will respond to the attack”

Al Jazeera

President Donald Trump accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, writing on Truth Social that “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Al Jazeera

CENTCOM said the two crew members were rescued within around two hours and were in stable condition, and NBC News reported that Task Force 59’s unmanned surface vessel found and rescued the soldiers after the aircraft went down off the coast of Oman.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that foreign forces near Iran face risks from “human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” and urged them to leave while Tehran said it preferred diplomacy.

The incident came as Trump said he was in the “final throes” of a deal to end the regional war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the strait described as shared by Iran and Oman in Iranian statements.

Araghchi told foreign forces to withdraw from the Strait of Hormuz, warning that “Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire.”

In parallel, Trump’s accusation and vow to respond drew immediate framing from U.S. command language, with CENTCOM saying the strikes were “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”

Al-Jazeera Net

The BBC reported that it was not immediately clear what the U.S. response would be, and said there had been no immediate response from Tehran to Trump’s comments.

The BBC also quoted Iran’s top negotiator in peace talks with Washington, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, posting “Break your commitments, and we'll switch to what we speak best.”

Al Jazeera reported that Iran had not confirmed or denied downing the helicopter, while Araghchi called on U.S. forces to withdraw and said the Strait of Hormuz is “shared between Iran and Oman” rather than international waters.

NBC News said Trump told reporters that the Strait of Hormuz “will open up right away” upon signing a deal, adding that it “could be in two or three days,” while he also said the agreement would not allow “in any way, shape or form nuclear weapons.”

“Tehran warns foreign forces near Iran ‘face risks’ after Trump’s threat #BREAKING US Central Command says it began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p”

Anadolu Ajansı

Al Jazeera warned that the latest escalation “risks rupturing an April 8 truce” between Iran and the United States, after CENTCOM resumed attacks on Iran within hours of Trump’s post.

The BBC reported that CENTCOM said the crew members were rescued at 19:33 EDT (23:33 GMT) on Monday, and said rescue efforts were led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division with support from US Air Force and Navy units including US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged withdrawal again, posting that “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave,” as the U.S. accused Iran of responsibility for the helicopter downing.

With the ceasefire described as fragile and ongoing diplomatic efforts continuing, the sources tied the immediate next steps to whether the U.S. response would intensify the conflict while negotiations aimed to end the regional war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.