US launched ‘self-defense’ strikes against Iran following downed helicopter

U.S. forces launched “self-defense” strikes against Iran on Wednesday, after President Donald Trump blamed the Islamic Republic for shooting down an American military helicopter that was patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes started at 5 p.m. ET at Trump’s direction, but didn’t immediately disclose specific targets.

“The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” CENTCOM added in a social media post.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said the two pilots on the downed helicopter were safe and uninjured but added, “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about whether full-scale fighting would resume or if the Trump administration would continue to engage in peace negotiations.

Trump said just last night that there was a good chance an agreement would be signed within two or three days.

“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal. If we go and bomb, which we can do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing, they’ll have nothing left whatsoever, but you won’t have the Strait open for months,” Trump said.

After Trump blamed Iran for the downed helicopter, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote in a social media post, “We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too.”

“Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” Araghchi wrote. “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.”

Iran’s foreign minister responded Wednesday afternoon, saying, “Iran prefers the language of diplomacy,” but added, “We know how to speak other languages too.”

The developments are testing an already strained ceasefire, after Iran and Israel traded strikes earlier this week.