The United States carried out airstrikes on Iran on Wednesday after President Donald Trump accused Tehran of shooting down a U.S. Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, further raising tensions in West Asia despite a ceasefire that took effect earlier this month.
Iran said it would respond to the strikes, increasing fears that the truce between Iran and Israel could unravel.
The U.S. military’s Central Command said the strikes began at Trump’s direction and described them as a “self-defence” operation.
“The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” the command said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Trump said on social media that Iran had brought down a U.S. Apache helicopter while it was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. He said the United States was compelled to respond.
The latest developments come just a day after Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since a ceasefire came into force on April 8.
On Monday, Trump had publicly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to avoid further attacks on Iran and Lebanon, warning that continued military action could jeopardise U.S. backing.
That appeal followed Israeli strikes on military sites in western and central Iran, which Israel said were carried out in response to Iranian missile attacks.
Both countries had earlier signalled that they were willing to halt hostilities. Iran’s military said it was suspending offensive operations but warned that any new attack by Israel or its allies would invite a much stronger response.
Netanyahu also indicated that the fighting had paused, while warning that Israel would retaliate if Iran launched further attacks.
The current conflict began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, saying Tehran posed a serious threat to Israeli security. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. military facilities in the region and shipping routes linked to Gulf trade.
The fighting has disrupted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the route, making any disruption a concern for global energy markets, including major importers such as India.
The United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 to create space for negotiations. However, repeated military exchanges and hostile rhetoric have raised doubts about whether the truce can hold.
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