The United States has carried out military strikes against Iran following claims by President Donald Trump that Tehran shot down a US Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the already volatile Middle East region.
The US military said on social media platform X that the operation targeted Iranian air defence systems, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites near the strategic waterway. US Central Command described the strikes as a “proportional response” to recent attacks on American forces and commercial shipping.
President Trump, speaking to ABC News, said the US response was deliberately strong and forceful, adding that the situation required a firm reaction.
The strikes reportedly began in the evening and concluded several hours later, according to Central Command updates.
Iranian state media reported that Qeshm Island and the port city of Sirik near the Strait of Hormuz were among the areas hit, with explosions also heard in Bandar Abbas and nearby regions.
In response, Iranian military sources claimed US bases in the region were targeted, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps alleged it had launched drones at the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, warning of further retaliation if hostilities continued.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed air raid sirens were activated, while local officials said air defences had intercepted incoming drones.
The Pentagon has not issued an official response, and Reuters said it could not independently verify battlefield claims from either side.
Oil prices reportedly rose in early Asian trading following the escalation, reflecting growing market concerns over stability in the region.
In a separate development, Israel also struck the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre, killing at least eight people in what has been described as the deadliest attack on the area since renewed hostilities earlier this year.
The wider conflict continues to intensify, with tensions involving Iran, Israel and US-backed forces threatening fragile ceasefire efforts and raising fears of further regional destabilisation.
Both sides have continued to exchange accusations, while diplomatic efforts to restore peace in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas remain uncertain.
