Source: Africa Publicity
US Central Command (CENTCOM) says American forces have started conducting “self-defense strikes” against Iran.
CENTCOM made this known on Tuesday night, June 9, 2026, saying the strikes were being carried out at the direction of President Donald Trump.
According to CENTCOM, the latest operation was a proportional response to the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter by Iran.
US President, Donald Trump, revealed on Tuesday that Iran shot down a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.
The helicopter was pa patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, the President said.
He vowed that the United States would respond to the attack.
According to Trump, “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.”
He added in a Truth Social post “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
Following Trump’s order, local residents in and around Sirik port city in southern Iran reported hearing several explosions on Tuesday evening, semi-official Mehr News Agency says.
The cause and nature of the sounds remain unclear, and no military or law enforcement authority has commented on the incident so far, according to the report.
The report added that efforts were underway to determine what caused the reported explosions.
