The US military struck targets inside Iran on June 9, 2026, after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of shooting down an American AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes, which began around 5 p.m. ET, targeted Iranian air-defense systems and radar installations.
Both pilots aboard the downed Apache were rescued unharmed.
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What happened in the Strait of Hormuz
US Central Command justified the strikes as a necessary act of self-defense, describing the helicopter shootdown as “unjustified Iranian aggression.” Trump followed up on Truth Social, framing the military response as critical and unavoidable.
