US Central Command started launching what it described as self-defense strikes at Iran around 5 p.m., describing it as *** proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression. Now this comes after President Trump posted on social media earlier today accusing Iran of shooting down *** US Army Apache helicopter patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz. He said that the two pilots involved are safe and uninjured, but added. Nevertheless, the United States must of necessity respond to this attack. Now the White House did not immediately answer our questions on whether full scale fighting would resume and whether the Trump administration would still engage in peace negotiations after all of this. Just last night, the president had said that there was *** good chance that an agreement would be signed in 2 or 3 days. We’re very close to having *** very, very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily if we want. And we spend another 2 or 3 weeks bombing. They’ll have nothing left whatsoever, but you won’t have the street open for months. And earlier this afternoon, Iran’s foreign minister said that Iran prefers the language of diplomacy, but added, quote, We know how to speak other languages too. All of this just the latest test for an already strained ceasefire after Israel and Iran also traded strikes earlier this week. Reporting on Washington, I’m Jackie DeFusco.
US launched ‘self-defense’ strikes against Iran following downed helicopter
U.S. forces launched “self-defense strikes” on Iran after President Trump accused the Islamic Republic of shooting down an American military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
Updated: 6:34 PM EDT Jun 9, 2026
U.S. forces launched “self-defense” strikes against Iran on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump blamed the Islamic Republic for shooting down an American military helicopter that was patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes started at 5 p.m. ET at Trump’s direction, but didn’t immediately disclose specific targets. “The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM added in a social media post.Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said the two pilots on the downed helicopter were safe and uninjured but added, “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.” The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether full-scale fighting would resume or if the Trump administration would continue to engage in peace negotiations. Trump said just last night that there was a good chance an agreement would be signed within two or three days. “We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing, they’ll have nothing left whatsoever, but you won’t have the Strait open for months,” Trump said. After Trump blamed Iran for the downed helicopter, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote in a social media post, “We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too.”“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,” Araghchi wrote. “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.”Iran’s foreign minister responded Wednesday afternoon, saying, “Iran prefers the language of diplomacy,” but added, “We know how to speak other languages too.” The developments are testing an already strained ceasefire, after Iran and Israel traded strikes earlier this week.
U.S. forces launched “self-defense” strikes against Iran on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump blamed the Islamic Republic for shooting down an American military helicopter that was patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes started at 5 p.m. ET at Trump’s direction, but didn’t immediately disclose specific targets.
“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM added in a social media post.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said the two pilots on the downed helicopter were safe and uninjured but added, “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether full-scale fighting would resume or if the Trump administration would continue to engage in peace negotiations.
Trump said just last night that there was a good chance an agreement would be signed within two or three days.
“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing, they’ll have nothing left whatsoever, but you won’t have the Strait open for months,” Trump said.
After Trump blamed Iran for the downed helicopter, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote in a social media post, “We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too.”
“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,” Araghchi wrote. “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.”
Iran’s foreign minister responded Wednesday afternoon, saying, “Iran prefers the language of diplomacy,” but added, “We know how to speak other languages too.”
The developments are testing an already strained ceasefire, after Iran and Israel traded strikes earlier this week.