U.S. forces launched retaliatory strikes Tuesday against Iran following the downing of an Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz as President Donald Trump struggles to reach a deal to end the war.
U.S. Central Command disclosed the strikes in a social media post that provided no details on the targets or the extent of the planned operation.
“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM said.
Trump had telegraphed a military response on social media overnight Monday following the news that Iran shot down the U.S. helicopter. Both pilots survived the attack and were recovered.
“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump told ABC News as the strikes were announced that it was “very important” for the U.S. to respond to the downing of the helicopter under what remain cloudy circumstances.
“This is a response to what they did they did with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is,” he said.
The military response risks an intensification of the three-month war between the U.S. and Iran as the Trump administration pursues a resolution. It’s unclear how peace negotiations will be affected, but the president has expressed optimism about the chances to reach a deal.
Trump told reporters Monday in New York he believes a deal to end the war could be reached “in two or three days,” though he has made similar statements in the past.
Iran’s government has indicated it may be looking to match any U.S. escalation. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Parliament, issued a foreboding warning to the U.S. and Israel.
“We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently,” Ghalibaf said. “Break your commitments, and we’ll switch to what we speak best.”