U.S. Launches Strikes Against Iran After Donald Trump Says Iranian Drone Downed Apache Helicopter

The United States launched strikes against Iran in response to the downing of an Army Apache helicopter off the coast of Oman, with US Central Command saying the action was directed by President Donald Trump.

“Israel could be left alone if war with Iran resumes: Trump U”

@globaltimesnews

CNN reported that local residents heard a “number of explosions” in the coastal city of Sirik, and that explosions were also heard in Bandar Abbas and Qeshm, which border the Strait of Hormuz.

@globaltimesnews

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward US targets in the region, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a social media post.

Two US officials told CNN the helicopter was brought down by an Iranian drone, with a separate source telling CNN it was a Shahed drone, and one official said it was unclear whether the helicopter was intentionally targeted.

The US Central Command post described the strikes as “self-defense strikes,” saying they were a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”

As the US military began striking Iran, Politico reported a senior White House official saying “Nothing changes where the deal stands right now,” and that a deal with Tehran was “still close.”

The Guardian said the US appears eager to play down the significance of the strikes, with multiple officials briefing US media that they expect wider negotiations with Iran to be unaffected by the action.

BBC

In a separate account, Trump told ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, “This is a response to what they did … with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful.”

The Times of Israel reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted attacks on Iran “for now,” after Trump instructed him not to escalate Israel’s fight with the Islamic Republic.

Netanyahu said in a prerecorded Hebrew video address that “if that terrorist regime makes the mistake of attacking us again, we will respond with force,” while warning that the fire on this front was halted because Iran stopped attacking after it was struck.

CBS News said the US Central Command began “self-defense strikes” at 5 p.m. ET at the direction of President Trump, and that the mission was a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”

“What to know about the Iran war today: - U”

CBS News

CNN reported that explosions were heard in Sirik and Minab and on Qeshm Island, while the governor of Minab clarified that “no attack on the city has been reported,” according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency.

NBC News said Trump insisted again Tuesday that a deal to end the war with Iran could be just days away, while Israel renewed its military assault in Lebanon with strikes on the southern city of Tyre and an evacuation warning that included the port’s Christian quarter.

In parallel, CNN reported that Vice President JD Vance said the administration is “very close” on achieving a deal with Iran, while telling Robert Costa it could be “within the week — or months away.”

NBC News also said Trump warned that the agreement would reopen the crucial waterway and ensure Iran would not be able to obtain nuclear weapons in “any way, shape or form,” even as it remained unclear how Tehran or Washington might respond to Israel’s ongoing operations in Lebanon.