U.S. military launches strikes in retaliation for Iran downing helicopter: Pentagon
Source: CNBC
Published Tue, Jun 9 2026 12:44 PM EDT Updated 5 Min Ago
U.S. forces on Tuesday evening launched strikes against Iran “in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter,” U.S. Central Command said. The “self-defense strikes” are “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” Centcom said in an X post.
The strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump, who said earlier Tuesday that the U.S. would respond to Iran downing the helicopter that was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.
The two pilots involved in the attack “are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
Trump did not say what form the U.S. response would take. He has reportedly said privately that he will not throw out the ceasefire with Iran — which remains nominally active despite numerous outbreaks of fighting — unless U.S. troops are killed.
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/09/trump-iran-helicopter-hormuz-strait.html
Link to tweet
@CENTCOM
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 aggression.
Last edited
5:18 PM · Jun 9, 2026
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