US Military Launches New Strike on Iran in Response to Apache Helicopter Downing

(WASHINGTON, 9, Comprehensive Foreign Report) U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that after the Islamic Republic of Iran shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter the day before, the military is launching a "reciprocal" strike operation against Iran today. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), U.S. Central Command posted on the social media platform X that U.S. forces "initiated self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief, in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter yesterday." CENTCOM noted, "This mission is a reciprocal response to Iran's unprovoked attack." Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with ABC News that he hoped for a "very strong" response from the U.S. to Iran's downing of the helicopter. Trump stated, "This is in response to them shooting down our helicopter last night... I think this response needs to be very tough, very powerful, and that is precisely the purpose of our action this time." (Compiler: Hung Chi-yuan) 1150610