U.S. forces struck Iranian air defense sites near the Strait of Hormuz on June 9, retaliating for the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter as Iran warned of a heavy response and advised neighboring Gulf states to stay away from military installations.
U.S. Central Command said forces completed self-defense strikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. CENTCOM said the strikes were a proportional response to the Apache downing and to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.
Precision munitions fired from U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets struck Iranian air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM said.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant and postured to defend against unjustified Iranian aggression.” — U.S. Central Command
An Iranian military official warned retaliation was imminent. “You will receive a heavy response soon,” the official wrote on social media, according to a post attributed to Ebrahim Zolfaghari. “We advise the people of the small countries south of the Persian Gulf to stay away from military installations. Gifts are coming.”
The strikes followed President Donald Trump’s vow that the United States must respond after Iran downed the Apache. Trump posted on Truth Social saying Iranian forces shot down “one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.” He said both pilots were “safe and uninjured.”
Earlier, U.S. Central Command confirmed that two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued after the helicopter went down near the coast of Oman at 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8. The soldiers were recovered within approximately two hours and are in stable condition.
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