Escalation: U.S. Strikes Iran After Helicopter Downed

U.S. forces launched airstrikes on Iranian sites near the Strait of Hormuz on June 9 after an Army AH-64 Apache went down off the coast of Oman. The strikes began at 5 p.m. ET and ended around 9 p.m., with Air Force and Navy jets using precision munitions to hit air defenses, ground control stations, and surveillance radars.

The two aviators were recovered within about two hours by a Task Force 59 unmanned surface vessel in the first known U.S. at-sea drone rescue. The crash remained under investigation, and initial indications pointed to a collision with an Iranian drone, with intent unclear.

Iran answered with missile and drone attacks aimed at sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Jordan intercepted five missiles before impact, Kuwait activated air defenses, and sirens sounded in Bahrain as defenses engaged.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources