US Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran After Apache Helicopter Downed
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on Tuesday after President Trump said Iran shot down an Army Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. The two pilots were rescued safely by an unmanned drone in a historic first for the U.S. military.
What Happened
An Apache helicopter that crashed into the sea on Monday was shot down by Iran while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said Tuesday, vowing to "respond to this attack." Trump wrote in a social media post: "I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz."
"There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured," Mr. Trump wrote. The pair were rescued by an unmanned surface drone operated by a special department called Task Force 59, based within the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. It was the first time a drone has been used for a water rescue.
US Military Response
Later Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said the U.S. military began launching "self-defense strikes" on Iran at 5 p.m. ET in response to the downing of the Apache. "The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression," CENTCOM said on social media. Explosions were reported in the southern Iranian port city of Sirik, as well as other sites around the Strait of Hormuz.
Technical Details and Investigation
A U.S. Army Apache helicopter that crashed off the coast of Oman went down after colliding with an Iranian drone, according to a U.S. official. It is not clear whether the collision was intentional, and official statements only said the crash is under investigation. Two U.S. officials told CBS News initial reports indicate an Iranian drone apparently took down the Apache helicopter. One of the officials said it's not clear if the drone deliberately attacked the helicopter.
Escalation Amid Peace Talks
On Monday, President Donald Trump said a deal aimed at ending the war would be reached over the next two weeks. Tuesday morning, he told reporters it could be "in two or three days," before announcing that Iran had downed an Apache helicopter and vowing to respond. The incident marks another major escalation in the ongoing 101-day conflict between the U.S. and Iran, complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts.