The United States launched military strikes against Iran after a US Army Apache helicopter was brought down near the Strait of Hormuz, triggering one of the most serious escalations in tensions between the two countries in recent months.
According to US officials, the Apache helicopter was downed off the coast of Oman while conducting patrol operations near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Washington alleged that the aircraft was hit by an Iranian drone, though Tehran disputed the US account and suggested the incident may have been accidental.
The two crew members aboard the helicopter survived and were rescued within hours. In a first for the US military, an unmanned Navy surface vessel helped locate and recover the pilots from the water before they were transferred to safety. Both were reported to be in stable condition.
Following the incident, President Donald Trump authorised what US Central Command described as a “proportional response” against Iranian targets. American forces carried out strikes on Iranian air defence systems, radar installations and drone-control facilities near the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were reported in several locations in southern Iran, including areas around Bandar Abbas and Sirik.
Iran condemned the attacks and warned that any military action against it would not go unanswered. Tehran subsequently launched missiles and drones towards US-linked targets in the region, raising concerns of a broader confrontation. Several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, reportedly activated security measures following the exchange of strikes.
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