The US military has said it launched new strikes against Iran after President Trump vowed to respond to the downing of a US Apache attack helicopter overnight, in the latest escalation between Washington and Tehran, threatening a fragile ceasefire.
The US military’s Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday that “self-defense strikes” started at 5 PM Washington time at Trump’s direction.
“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” Central Command said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Mehr News Agency, citing residents, reports hearing explosions in the Sirik area.
Iran’s state media reported that Qeshm Island and the Bandar Abbas seaport were also attacked.
Trump vowed response
“I think it’s very important to respond. They shot down a helicopter, and we are responding as we speak,” Trump told ABC News on US retaliatory strikes against Iran.
