US attacks Iranian targets after Apache helicopter incident

The United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday evening following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US Central Command.

The military said the attacks began at 5:00 PM EDT and described them as “self-defense strikes” carried out in response to “yesterday’s downing of a US Army Apache helicopter”.

According to sources cited by CNN, initial strikes targeted Iranian air defence and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz and additional strikes are aslo expected.

A source familiar with the helicopter incident said an Iranian Shahed drone hit the Apache on Monday. Both pilots survived and were rescued by an unmanned US drone boat, according to President Donald Trump.

Explosions were later reported in the Iranian coastal city of Sirik, as well as Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, according to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency.

“The exact nature of these sounds has not yet been determined, and as of now, no official military or law-enforcement authorities have commented on the cause of the explosions,” Mehr reported.