The United States carried out air strikes on Iran on Wednesday after an American Army helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the incident and said the US had to respond.
According to the US military, fighter jets from the Air Force and Navy targeted Iranian air defence systems, control stations and radar sites. Iran confirmed that strikes took place near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island but did not provide details about any damage.
The US Central Command described the operation as a “proportional response” to recent attacks on American forces and commercial ships in the region.
Iran Promises Retaliation
Iran strongly criticised the US strikes and warned that it would respond.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not ignore any attack or threat. In a message posted on social media, he warned foreign military forces to leave the region if they wanted to remain safe.
Iran also claimed it launched a drone towards the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. However, Bahraini authorities did not report any attack.
Ceasefire Under Pressure
The latest violence has placed further strain on a fragile ceasefire that has been in place for two months.
The situation worsened after Iran and Israel exchanged fire earlier this week, marking the first direct clash since the truce began. Iranian state media reported that at least two members of the country’s air defence forces were killed in Israeli strikes.
Efforts to turn the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace agreement have so far failed.
US officials said the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed after colliding with an Iranian drone during a patrol mission near Oman. It is not yet clear whether the collision was deliberate. American authorities said an investigation is ongoing.
President Trump said the two crew members survived the crash without injuries.
In a first for the US military, an unmanned drone boat rescued the two pilots after the crash. The rescue took place about two hours after the helicopter went down. The drone boat transported the aviators to a safe location, where they were later picked up by a helicopter.
The vessel used in the operation was a 24-foot drone called the Corsair, operated by the US Navy’s Task Force 59, which specialises in unmanned and artificial intelligence systems for maritime security.
Global Economic Concerns
The conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has continued to affect the global economy. Since fighting intensified earlier this year, energy prices have increased sharply, leading to higher costs for fuel, food and other everyday goods around the world.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil, has also faced major disruption.
Peace Talks Remain Stalled
International mediators, led mainly by Pakistan, have been working to secure a lasting agreement between the US and Iran.
However, major disagreements remain. The United States wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Iran is demanding relief from sanctions and the release of frozen assets before any final agreement is reached. Both sides have continued to take firm positions, making progress difficult.
Fighting in Lebanon Adds to Regional Tensions
The conflict has also affected neighbouring Lebanon, where Israel has expanded military operations against Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed armed group. Israel recently issued new warnings for parts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, including areas that had largely avoided previous air strikes.
Lebanese authorities have increased military deployments in the area in an effort to prevent further attacks and reduce tensions. Analysts warn that continued fighting across the region could make peace efforts even more difficult and increase the risk of a wider conflict.
First published on: Jun 10, 2026 07:09 AM IST
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