Explosions heard in Iran after CENTCOM announces self-defense strikes

Explosions were reportedly heard on Iran's Kish and Cask islands, as well as in the port city of Sirik, following the U.S. Central Command's (CENTCOM) announcement of strikes. Iranian media outlets disseminated these reports.

CENTCOM stated that its forces initiated "self-defense strikes" against Iran under the direction of the Commander in Chief. This action is described as a "proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression" and directly follows the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter the previous day.

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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.

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously stated that Iran shot down a U.S. military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that "the U.S. had to respond." In response to Trump's comments about potential U.S. strikes, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a warning. "We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages much more fluently," Ghalibaf stated. "If you do not keep your promises, we will switch to the language we speak best."

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We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages much more fluently. If you do not keep your promises, we will switch to the language we speak best.