Centcom: US Strikes Iran for Hours After Apache Helicopter Downed

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated once again after the United States launched a series of military strikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday (9/6) local time. This operation serves as a retaliation for the crash of a US Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormusc.

US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that the strikes lasted several hours and were carried out under the direct instruction of President Donald Trump. The military stated that the operation was a proportional act of self-defence.

According to senior US officials, the military conducted three waves of attacks targeting Iranian air defence systems and radar sites around the Strait of Hormuz. Air Force and Navy fighter jets were deployed to deliver precision munitions to strategic targets, including ground control stations.

“This operation is a proportional response to recent attacks against US forces and international commercial vessels traversing regional waters,” Centcom stated in an official release at approximately 21:00 local time.

President Trump was initially hesitant to retaliate. In a telephone conversation with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday morning, he downplayed the incident, suggesting it was not a major issue as the pilot did not sustain serious injuries.

However, Trump’s stance shifted after receiving briefings from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Both provided updated data regarding the involvement of Iranian Shahed drones that struck the Apache helicopter while it was patrolling off the coast of Oman.

The helicopter crash on Monday night triggered a race against time to rescue two Americans. In an operation marking the first use of such technology in an active combat zone, both crew members were successfully rescued by a US Navy unmanned drone boat.

The 24-foot Saronic Corsair drone boat, part of Task Force 59 (the US Navy’s first AI and drone unit), evacuated the crew from dark waters after they had been adrift for two hours. This success is considered a new milestone in the use of autonomous systems for search and rescue (SAR) missions in complex conflict zones.

Conversely, Tehran has denied intentionally targeting the helicopter. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated via social media that the presence of foreign forces near their territory always carries the risk of accidents or being caught in crossfire.

However, following the US retaliatory strikes, Araghchi warned that the Iranian armed forces would not allow any attacks or threats to go unanswered. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains on high alert, given that the route is a vital artery for global oil trade.