The United States has launched military strikes against Iran after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of being responsible for the downing of a U.S. military helicopter over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. Central Command (Centcom), American forces began military operations at approximately 17:00 EST on Tuesday, describing the action as a “proportional response” to what it called unjustified Iranian aggression.
The escalation follows the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump confirmed that both crew members survived the incident and were successfully rescued.
“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
Centcom said the rescue operation involved an American unmanned surface drone operated by Task Force 59, a Bahrain-based naval unit focused on integrating autonomous systems into maritime security operations across the Middle East. The drone transported the pilots to a safe location, where they were later extracted by helicopter.
While U.S. officials have blamed Iran for the incident, questions remain over whether the attack was deliberate. One U.S. official told CBS News that it remains unclear whether the drone responsible intentionally targeted the American helicopter.
Iranian media acknowledged the incident but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that Tehran had not officially taken credit for the helicopter’s downing.
The military confrontation comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East. Israeli forces conducted strikes across southern Lebanon earlier on Tuesday, prompting warnings from Tehran that further attacks could trigger another round of retaliation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that foreign military forces operating near Iranian territory face constant risks from accidents, human error, or becoming caught in regional conflicts.
“To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave,” Araghchi wrote on social media platform X.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s top negotiator in ongoing talks with Washington, also issued a warning online, suggesting that Iran could abandon diplomacy if agreements are not honored.
Despite the military escalation, President Trump indicated that diplomatic efforts remain active. He told reporters that negotiations aimed at ending the broader regional conflict were progressing and could potentially produce results within days.
“We’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” Trump said, adding that a breakthrough could come within “two or three days” and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen fully afterward.
The latest developments come after Israel and Iran recently paused direct attacks against one another following a weekend exchange of fire that threatened to unravel a fragile truce established earlier this year.
With U.S. military strikes now underway and tensions rising across multiple fronts, global attention is focused on whether diplomatic efforts can prevent a wider regional conflict.
