U.S. Strikes Iran in Response to Helicopter Downing

The United States initiated "self-defense strikes" against Iran, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom). The operation began at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, following the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter, which President Donald Trump attributed to Iran.

Centcom described the operation as a "proportionate response to unwarranted Iranian aggression." Explosions were reported in the eastern part of Iran's southern Hormozgan province and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media initially reported that the situation had calmed down early Wednesday morning, but explosions were reportedly heard again in several areas around 3 a.m. Iran time.

Following the U.S. strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced it had fired missiles and drones at U.S. targets. The U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter crashed into the sea near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, U.S. Eastern Time. Both crew members were reportedly rescued safely.

President Trump had accused Iran of downing the helicopter earlier on Tuesday and reiterated his accusations during the ongoing strikes. "This is a response to what they did to our helicopter last night. I think our response has to be very strong and very powerful. That's what this is," Trump commented to ABC News during the night.