Airstrikes escalate in Middle East following Apache helicopter crash; Trump warns Iran will ‘pay the price’
Jon Gambrell And Phil Stewart
Updated ,first published
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: US President Donald Trump said Iran had taken too long to negotiate a deal and would now “have to pay the price”, while Tehran said it would re-evaluate its diplomatic relations with Washington following tit-for-tat attacks.
“It’s all talk, no action in Iran,” Trump said in a social media post on Wednesday morning (US time). “It took too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they are going to have to pay for it!!!”
The United States launched airstrikes on Iran early Wednesday after blaming Tehran for the downing of an American attack helicopter, prompting new attacks from Iran and further expanding retaliatory strikes that threaten to derail efforts to end the war.
In response, Iran launched attacks on sites in Bahrain and Kuwait; these attacks both alerted and fired up air defenses in response. Jordan also reported that five missiles fired by Iran at an air base hosting American forces were shot down.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tehran would re-evaluate diplomatic relations with Washington after what he called repeated ceasefire violations. “Any diplomatic process requires a minimum stable environment,” Esmaeil Baghaei said.
The US strikes were the first American attack on Iran since the ceasefire came into force on April 8.
Since the United States and Israel launched a war by attacking Iran on February 28, the conflict has shaken the global economy, driving up energy prices and making many basic needs, including food, more expensive.
Authorities have failed to turn an April ceasefire into an agreement to permanently end the conflict, especially as Israel intensifies its military campaign against Iran-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A day after Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since the fragile ceasefire took effect, the downing of an Apache attack helicopter and US strikes have further strained the ceasefire.
At least two members of the country’s air defense units were killed in Israeli strikes, Iranian state television said on Tuesday.
New attacks shake the Middle East
The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) said US Air Force and Navy warplanes carried out strikes in Iran and targeted “air defenses, ground control stations and surveillance radar sites”. Iran acknowledged the attacks around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island but did not provide details of the damage.
“The operation was a proportionate response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” Centcom said.
Meanwhile, Iran’s top diplomat said foreign military forces close to its territory were “at constant risk” and later promised a new response to the latest US attacks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in his statement on the X channel, said that Iranian forces “will not leave any attack or threat unanswered.” “If you want to be safe, leave our area.”
Jordan said Wednesday it shot down five missiles launched by Iran that it said targeted Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, home to American F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.
Jordan’s state-owned Petra news agency published a statement from the army, adding that there were no injuries in the attack and that explosives experts were examining the debris resulting from the intervention.
Apache collided with Iranian drone, official says
A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with an Iranian drone, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
While it was not disclosed whether the collision was intentional or not, official statements only stated that the accident was under investigation. CNN, CBS News and other outlets had previously reported the collision.
In the first known operation by the American military, a drone boat rescued the helicopter’s crew at 3.30am (Gulf time) on Tuesday, about two hours after both crashed while on patrol off the coast of Oman, Centcom said.
The unmanned aerial vehicle used to perform the rescue was a 7.3-meter ship called the Corsair, Centcom spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said. He was assigned to US Navy Task Force 59, which was established in 2021 as the first uncrewed AI unit focused on maritime security in the Middle East.
Trump said both crew members were “safe and uninjured.”
AH-64 Apache helicopters have been an important asset for the U.S. military, which has implemented a blockade of Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers to pressure Tehran to make a deal. Helicopters were also used by the United Arab Emirates to shoot down Iranian drones.
Trump insists that a deal will be reached with Iran
Before accusing Iran of shooting down the helicopter, Trump expressed renewed optimism about negotiations with Iran, but did not say there were reasons to be optimistic.
Mediators, mainly led by Pakistan, have been trying for weeks to reach an agreement that crosses the line. However, both Tehran and Washington took tough stances.
The United States wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium believed to have been buried during American airstrikes during the 12-day war in 2025. However, Iran rejects this and demands the easing of sanctions. He also wants frozen assets to be released before a final deal is made, something Trump has rejected.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it had carried out several attacks targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon in the past day.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains one of Iran’s top priorities; The Lebanese government is taking an increasingly harsh stance against Hezbollah, but has failed to disarm the powerful militias.
Reuters, AP
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