U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Tuesday, June 9 that, after a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down, U.S. forces have begun “self-defense strikes” against Iran.
CENTCOM wrote on X:
“U.S. Central Command (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.”
A U.S. official told Fox News that the strikes targeted Iranian air defense systems and radar installations, with the aim of degrading Iran’s air defense capabilities and reducing threats to U.S. forces and allies.
First use of sea-based unmanned vessel to rescue pilots
CENTCOM stated in a separate release that at 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter crashed while on patrol near the coast of Oman. The two personnel on board were later successfully rescued and are in stable condition.
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The statement said the rescue operation was led by U.S. Naval Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Task Force 59 of the Fifth Fleet. The cause of the incident is still under investigation.
CENTCOM also revealed that the two crew members were recovered by a maritime unmanned surface vessel.
CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed to Fox News that this is the first time the U.S. military has used an unmanned surface vessel to carry out a maritime rescue mission of this kind.
Trump response
U.S. President Donald Trump responded on Tuesday afternoon, saying the helicopter was shot down by Iran and that the United States would respond.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“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. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
CENTCOM also released a set of recent training photos on Tuesday showing U.S. forces in the Middle East maintaining a high level of combat readiness.
The images show the U.S. Marine Corps 31st Expeditionary Unit aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli in the Arabian Sea, loading weapons onto a UH-1Y “Venom” helicopter and conducting aerial sniper and close air support training.
Heavy weapons visible in the footage included miniguns and Barrett M107 large-caliber sniper rifles.
