“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM said.

By World Israel News Staff

The United States launched strikes against multiple targets in Iran on Tuesday evening, marking Washington’s first direct military action against Iranian targets since the latest escalation began.

Explosions were reported in the port city of Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island shortly after the operation commenced.

In a statement posted on X, U.S. Central Command said American forces began carrying out what it described as “self-defense strikes” at 5 p.m. Eastern time on orders from President Donald Trump.

According to CENTCOM, the operation was launched in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz the previous night.

“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM said.

U.S. 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 U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026

The strikes came hours after Trump publicly stated that the United States would respond once military investigators concluded that Iran was responsible for the attack.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

When the helicopter went down Monday night, the cause was not immediately known. Both crew members were rescued safely, according to U.S. officials.

Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed of the operation by Trump before the strikes began.

The American attack marks a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the confrontation with Iran, coming as Washington had simultaneously been pursuing negotiations with Tehran aimed at reaching a broader agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and regional activities.

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Utilizing a traditional regional idiom, he warned Trump that he was making a severe strategic error, telling him that he was riding a saddled horse into a dangerous trap.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

The political leadership in Tehran has responded with absolute defiance to the recent military warnings issued by United States President Donald Trump.

Speaking before legislative representatives, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf delivered a pointed, metaphor laden address aimed directly at the executive branch in Washington.

The official state response signals that the regime has no intention of retreating or offering diplomatic concessions following the downing of an American Apache helicopter over the Persian Gulf.

Ghalibaf asserted that while the Islamic Republic historically prefers to engage through established diplomatic channels, its military forces are exceptionally well trained in executing more aggressive forms of communication.

The parliamentary leader stated openly that if the United States chooses to violate its international obligations or initiate direct strikes against sovereign territory, the regime will immediately pivot to the language it understands best. Utilizing a traditional regional idiom, he warned the American president that he was making a severe strategic error, telling him that he was riding a saddled horse into a dangerous trap.

The aggressive remarks from Tehran follow a public confirmation by President Trump that American military authorities had verified the destruction of a sophisticated attack helicopter by Iranian defense units.

Trump had used his platform to issue an explicit warning to the regime, stating that the nature of the attack created an absolute necessity for an American military response. The rapid, high level exchange of hostile rhetoric between the two heads of state has effectively eliminated any immediate path toward quiet de-escalation, placing both armed forces on high combat alert.

Regional defense analysts note that Qalibaf’s statements reflect a broader calculation within the Iranian ruling elite, who believe that their domestic air defense networks and asymmetric naval assets can inflict sufficient costs to deter a sustained American campaign.

By publicly challenging the White House, the legislative speaker sought to project internal strength to the regime’s domestic supporters and regional proxy networks. As naval forces continue to mobilize within the narrow shipping lanes of the Gulf, the probability of a localized tactical exchange shifting into a broader international war continues to rise.

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The two crew members aboard the helicopter survived.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

President Donald Trump said the United States must respond to an attack on a US Apache helicopter after an investigation revealed that Iran was behind the attack.

Trump announced the finding Tuesday in a Truth Social post, one day after the aircraft went down and while Washington was continuing negotiations with Tehran.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

When the helicopter crashed Monday night, the cause was not immediately known.

Two sources cited by The New York Times said both crew members were rescued safely after the incident.

At the time, questions remained over whether the aircraft had suffered a mechanical failure or had come under attack.

Trump had addressed the incident shortly after it occurred, but the latest findings identified Iran as responsible for the loss of the aircraft.

The helicopter came down near the Strait of Hormuz during a period in which fighting between Israel and Iran had subsided following a recent escalation.

No details were released regarding the helicopter’s assignment at the time of the incident.

According to the US Central Command website, Apache helicopters are used for missions including precision strikes, close air support and aerial reconnaissance.

The president did not outline what form a US response might take.

His comments contrasted with remarks he made less than 24 hours earlier regarding diplomacy with Tehran. Speaking Monday night at JFK Airport, Trump said negotiations were in their “final throes” and suggested a deal could be reached quickly.

“We are very close to having a very, very good strong, powerful deal,” Trump said, adding that a diplomatic agreement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within “two or three days.”

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Trump had said he would consider ending the Iran ceasefire if Iranian attacks resulted in American casualties.

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