The U.S. military conducted “self-defense strikes” in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter, with Iran later retaliating against U.S. targets in the surrounding countries.
A new clash has put again on pause the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, as both striked each other following the shootdown of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter on June 8, 2026. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) described the U.S. strikes as “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”
U.S. President Donald Trump previously vowed to retaliate after the acknowledgement that the Apache was indeed shot down. Iran later launched its own retaliation, targeting U.S. installations in the neighboring countries.
Apache Shootdown
A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz in the evening of June 8, 2026. The two crew members were later safely rescued near the coast of Oman by a Saronic Technologies Corsair uncrewed surface vessel (USV) operated by the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59.
The causes of the incident were initially unknown, with officials stating it was already under investigation. However, few hours later, President Trump announced via social media that Iran had ‘shot down’ the helicopter, vowing for a retaliation.
Unnamed officials since clarified that an Iranian Shahed drone is believed to be the culprit for the attack, and that it is not yet clear whether it was a deliberately targeted action or an accidental collision. Iran refuted the claims of an intentional shootdown.
The incident marks the first time during Operation Epic Fury that an Apache has been lost, and also the first time a U.S. Army Apache has been shot down since the Iraq War. U.S. Apache helicopters have been operating over the area for months, flying armed patrol missions in support of freedom of navigation.
U.S. Strikes
Following the statement by President Trump, CENTCOM launched in the evening of June 9, starting from 5:00 pm ET/12:30 am Iran time, a series of “self-defense strikes against Iran.” The statement said the strikes were “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression” against the downed Apache helicopter.
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…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026
Four hours later, CENTCOM announced the completion of the strikes. The statement said that U.S. forces “struck Iranian air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz with precision munitions from U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets.”
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 10, 2026
Officials later detailed that a total of nearly 20 targets were struck. According to open source reports, the targets appear to have been mainly located along Iran’s coast and on Qeshm island, near the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. STRUCK NEARLY 20 TARGETS IN IRAN, U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) June 10, 2026
An official later told CNN that this round of strikes is intended as a “warning shot” at Iran and is not believed to hinder the ongoing negotiations to end the conflict.
Reported US and Iranian attacks so far tonight, as Hormuz once again descends into fighting. pic.twitter.com/2s5Bt92p3p
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 10, 2026
Iranian Retaliation
Iran called the U.S. strikes a “clear violation” of its sovereignty, warning that nearby countries hosting U.S. installations could be targeted. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) already started retaliation strikes against the U.S. targets in the neighboring countries.
The IRGC claimed it targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan with long-range solid-fuel missiles and the facilities of the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain with drones. Sirens sounded also in Kuwait, with strikes possibly aimed at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Several Iranian ballistic missiles were reportedly fired from Khomein just a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/zWY6NDCMkn
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 10, 2026
U.S. officials later said they are not aware of U.S. casualties or damage to U.S. installations, adding that almost all the missiles and drones were intercepted. Similar statements were also released by the three targeted countries, saying they intercepted a number of Iranian weapons without reports of casualties or damages.
U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS NOT AWARE OF ANY REPORTS OF HARM TO U.S. PERSONNEL OR KNOWN DAMAGE TO U.S. LOCATIONS AT THIS TIME, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE MULTIPLE MISSILES AND DRONES LAUNCHED BY IRAN WERE INTERCEPTED, ASSESSMENTS STILL ONGOING
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) June 10, 2026
Videos showed the launch of at least some of the ballistic missiles by Iran. Similarly, some videos also showed the air defenses at work, with the possible involvement of Patriot interceptors.
PATRIOT SAM system engaging incoming Iranian ballistic missiles over Bahrain this morning. pic.twitter.com/J9tipyyccZ
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) June 10, 2026
Aftermath
Following the strikes, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei reportedly stated that Iran is “reviewing” its negotiations with the U.S. He accused the U.S. and Israel of “repeated ceasefire violations.”
“Unfortunately, the United States is undermining this process through contradictory messages, frequent shifts in its positions and demands, as well as repeated ceasefire violations,” he said, adding that Israel has also shown bad faith by repeated strikes on Lebanon.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly held phone calls with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia and Turkey following the U.S. strikes, according to a statement reported by CNN. Meanwhile, Egypt, Qatar and the UAE condemned the Iranian strikes.
The U.S. has not yet released new official statements, other than CENTCOM’s. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, following the decision to launch the strikes, said they “became necessary,” adding that the U.S. will have “to take care of this business.”
