The United States launched airstrikes against Iran at 5 PM ET on Tuesday, following the downing of a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump asserted that the U.S. had to respond to this incident, which he described as a necessity. The strikes were labeled by Central Command (CENTCOM) as a "proportional response," although details on the specific targets of the strikes have not been disclosed. Iranian state media reported explosions in the Hormozgan province, indicating potential impact from the U.S. attacks. In a statement, Iranian officials vowed a "decisive response" to the U.S. actions, claiming that the allegation of downing the helicopter was a pretext. The incident reportedly involved an Iranian drone, which struck the helicopter, leading to its crash; however, it remains unclear whether this was intentional. Both members of the U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter were rescued by a drone boat and are currently in stable condition. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that foreign forces near Iranian territory could face risks from accidents or crossfire, while expressing a preference for diplomatic solutions alongside a readiness for military responses.