US strikes Iran after helicopter downing, Trump says response is 'very strong'

United States forces launched strikes against Iran on Tuesday, which President Donald Trump said was retaliation for the downing of an American helicopter the previous day. Trump told ABC News the US was responding "in a strong manner" to Iran's actions, adding, "I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is."

“

And I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is.

US Central Command confirmed that American forces "began launching self-defense strikes against Iran... at the Commander in Chief’s direction." The command described the mission as a "proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression." Iranian media reported explosions on the country's southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes came as Trump had claimed negotiations to end the Middle East war were in their final stages. A ceasefire that began April 8 had faced significant tests over the weekend with renewed attacks by Iran and Israel, though both sides had announced a halt. However, Israeli attacks on Lebanon continued, with Lebanese officials reporting 11 people killed in airstrikes on the city of Tyre.

“

the mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged foreign forces to leave the Strait of Hormuz area, warning they risked being caught in the crossfire. He stated, "The Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters but shared between Iran and Oman," adding that foreign forces near Iranian territory were at "constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in the crossfire."

“

The Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters but shared between Iran and Oman. Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in the crossfire.