On the night of June 10, regional tensions reached a peak as the US and Iran exchanged retaliatory strikes. The initiative in this conflict came from Washington in response to an incident that occurred the day before — on Monday, Iranian forces shot down an American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
Preconditions for escalation
The situation developed rapidly. On Tuesday, June 9, US President Donald Trump stated that a deal with Iran could be reached in the coming days. However, later that same day, he announced on social media that an Apache helicopter had been shot down in the Strait of Hormuz, allegedly by Iran. Trump promised a decisive response to this incident.
On the night of June 10, Trump, in a comment to ABC News, emphasized that the response must be powerful: "I think we have to respond decisively... And we had a very good deal, and probably it will remain so. This is a response to what they did to our helicopter last night, and I think the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that is exactly what it is".
US attack and Iran's reaction
Immediately after the President's statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the start of an attack on Iran. Iranian media reported sounds of explosions in the cities of Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Kish. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of missiles and drones against US targets in the Middle East.
The head of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, stated that no US attack would go unanswered: "Our powerful armed forces will not leave any attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe. The history of the Persian Gulf is full of chapters dedicated to the tragic fate of foreign invaders".
Course of the operation
Around 03:00, media reported a second wave of US attacks, followed by a third. By 4 a.m., CENTCOM declared the operation complete, emphasizing that the strikes were carried out in self-defense in response to the downing of the Apache helicopter.
"CENTCOM forces struck Iranian air defense systems, ground control points, and surveillance radar stations near the Strait of Hormuz with high-precision munitions from US Air Force and Navy fighter jets," the command's statement read. The operation was described as a proportional response to recent attacks on US troops and international merchant vessels in the region.
Claims of counterattacks
The IRGC claims to have struck the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a US military base in Jordan where US troops were stationed. However, CNN reports that there was no alarm signal in Jordan. The Tashim news agency, citing an IRGC statement, reports damage to a communications tower in Sirik and the destruction of two reservoirs in the Bamani area as a result of US strikes.
Political context
In an interview with CBS, US Vice President JD stated that Washington is close to a deal that will resolve Iran's nuclear problem. According to him, the agreement could be concluded either next week or in a few months, but before the US midterm elections.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country could find itself in a situation where it would have to face Iran alone, without US support.