Trump blames Iran for Apache downing; CENTCOM opens strikes

Tuesday, June 9, 2026Confirmed

Politics Desk

What we know

President Donald Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for downing a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache near the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States "must, of necessity, respond," hours after both crew members were rescued uninjured. U.S. Central Command said self-defense strikes on Iranian air-defense, ground-control and surveillance radar sites began at 5 p.m. ET — a proportional reply, CENTCOM said, to "unjustified Iranian aggression."

U.S. officials told CBS and AP the Apache collided with an Iranian Shahed drone off Oman on Monday; intent remained under investigation even as Trump framed it as a shoot-down. The crew was recovered within about two hours by a Task Force 59 unmanned surface vessel — the first U.S. maritime rescue by a sea drone — then transferred by helicopter. Iran denied operations over the strait; IRGC later claimed strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Jordan as Kuwait intercepted fire.

What's confirmed

CENTCOM: self-defense strikes began 5 p.m. ET Tuesday on Iranian air-defense, ground-control and surveillance radar sites (CENTCOM/AP/BBC).
Trump: Iran shot down AH-64 on Hormuz patrol; both pilots safe; U.S. "must, of necessity, respond" (CBS/AP).
Rescue: Task Force 59 USV first-ever U.S. sea-drone water rescue; crew stable within ~2 hours off Oman (CBS/CENTCOM).
Iran/Gulf: IRGC claimed fire at U.S. bases in Bahrain and Jordan; Kuwait intercepted attack; Iran denied Hormuz ops (BBC/AP).

What's still developing

Whether Tuesday night strikes freeze or widen before any Hormuz reopen deal Trump still floated.
Investigation findings on whether the Iranian drone strike was deliberate.
Casualty and site-damage tallies inside Iran and at Gulf host bases.

Sources

AP News — US and Iran launch strikes after Trump blames Tehran for helicopter crash link
CBS News — U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by Iran, Trump says; crew rescued by sea drone link
BBC News — US and Iran exchange fire after American patrol helicopter downed in Hormuz link
AP News — Live updates: US strikes Iran after Trump claims it downed an American helicopter link