The United States military has confirmed that it has begun a series of strikes against Iran following the downing of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation started at about 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday and was carried out on the orders of President Donald Trump as a "self-defense" response to the incident. 

President Trump had earlier accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter while it was on patrol in the strategic waterway. Reports indicate that the two crew members aboard the aircraft were successfully rescued and are in stable condition. The rescue operation reportedly involved a naval drone and support from U.S. military forces in the region. 

U.S. officials described the military action as a proportional response aimed at Iranian military targets, including radar and air-defense installations. Washington insists the strikes are limited in scope and are not intended to trigger a wider war. 

Iran, however, has condemned the attacks and warned of further consequences. Iranian authorities reported that several locations in Jask, Sirik and Qeshm were struck, causing damage to infrastructure. Tehran has also launched retaliatory attacks against U.S. military positions in parts of the Middle East, including bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, according to multiple reports.