Barney Davis
Published June 9, 2026 6:19pm
Updated June 9, 2026 10:43pm
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Previous Page Next PageThe US has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Donald Trump promised revenge for the downing of an Apache attack helicopter.
US Central Command confirmed they had carried out ‘self-defence’ strikes, threatening the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.
Explosions were heard soon after the announcement.
USCC said in a statement: ‘The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.’
President Trump earlier called for revenge after two pilots had to be rescued when their military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a Truth Social post, he said earlier: ‘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.
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‘There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.’
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command said it was the first known drone rescue at sea by the American forces.
Military officials did not say what caused the Apache helicopter to go down, saying the crash was under investigation but Trump said he learned Iran was responsible before posting.
A senior military official told Axios that an investigation determined that an Iranian drone struck the AH-64 Apache but the official stressed they had not yet determined whether that was an intentional Iran attack.
Before he accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter, Trump had expressed renewed optimism over negotiations with Iran.
‘We have a good chance’ of signing a deal in ‘two or three days,’ Trump said. But he didn’t provide any details on why there was reason for new optimism. In the two months since the U.S. and Iran agreed to an initial ceasefire, Trump has repeatedly predicted that a deal is near.
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‘We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,’ the president said.
‘If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the Strait open for months.’
The US negotiations centre on demands Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be entombed in the aftermath of American airstrikes that happened during the 12-day war in 2025.
But Iran is refusing that and is demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump.
Arrow MORE: US Apache helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz sparking fears it was ‘shot down’
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