U.S. Military Retaliatory Strikes on Iran, Multiple Explosions Heard in Southern Iran

On June 9, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington (reporters Huang Qiang and Xu Jianmei) that the U.S. Central Command stated on social media that the U.S. military conducted strikes against Iran that day in response to the incident where an American "Apache" attack helicopter was shot down by Iran. Iranian media subsequently reported explosions in multiple locations in Iran's southern Hormozgan Province.

The U.S. Central Command stated that the U.S. military began "defensive strikes" against Iran at 5 PM Eastern Time on the 9th, describing the action as a "measured response to Iran's unprovoked attacks." However, the U.S. military did not provide further details regarding the specifics of the strikes against Iran.

Shortly after the U.S. military's announcement, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported explosions in the eastern regions of Hormozgan Province, including Sirik and Minab, although the exact locations of the explosions remain unclear. Local sources indicated that there were air defense activities in some areas of the province.

Earlier that day, Trump posted on social media that an American "Apache" attack helicopter was shot down by Iran on the evening of the 8th in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that "the U.S. must respond to this attack." According to multiple U.S. media reports, U.S. officials claimed that the attack helicopter was shot down by an Iranian drone, but it remains unclear whether the attack was intentional.