The United States launched airstrikes on Iran and Tehran retaliated with attacks targeting Gulf states on Wednesday after President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the crash of a US Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Iran said it carried out attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait, prompting both countries to activate air-defense systems and issue alerts. Tehran also claimed it targeted an air base in Jordan that hosts US troops, though neither US nor Jordanian officials immediately confirmed the strike.
The latest exchange of attacks has raised fresh concerns over regional stability and threatens efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire reached in April after months of conflict.
The US military's Central Command said Air Force and Navy fighter jets struck Iranian air-defense systems, ground-control facilities and surveillance radar sites.
"The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters," Central Command said.
Iran acknowledged that strikes hit areas around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in southern Iran but did not provide details on casualties or damage.
Earlier, Trump said on social media that Iran had shot down an Army helicopter during a patrol mission over the Strait of Hormuz and insisted the United States had to respond.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the accusation and warned that foreign military forces operating near Iranian territory faced increasing risks.
"Iranian forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered," Araghchi said in a post on X, adding that foreign forces should leave the region if they wanted to remain safe.
The latest confrontation came a day after Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since the two-month ceasefire took effect. Iranian state media reported that Israeli attacks killed at least two members of the country's air-defense forces.
The conflict has continued to disrupt global markets since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb. 28, contributing to higher energy prices and rising costs of essential goods worldwide.
According to a US official familiar with the investigation, the Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed after colliding with an Iranian drone while operating near the Strait of Hormuz.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators have not determined whether the collision was accidental or deliberate. US authorities have said the incident remains under investigation.
The two crew members aboard the helicopter were rescued in an unprecedented operation involving an unmanned surface vessel, US Central Command said.
The rescue took place about two hours after the helicopter went down off the coast of Oman early Tuesday. Trump said both service members escaped unharmed.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said a drone boat located the pilots and transported them to another position at sea, where they were later picked up by a helicopter.
He described the mission as the first known rescue at sea conducted by a drone vessel in US military history.
The unmanned vessel used in the operation was a 24-foot Corsair boat built by Saronic Technologies and assigned to the Navy's Task Force 59, a unit specialising in autonomous and artificial intelligence-based maritime security operations across the Middle East.
Apache helicopters have played an important role in US efforts to monitor regional waterways and enforce restrictions on Iranian oil shipments. The aircraft have also been used by the United Arab Emirates to intercept Iranian drones.
Before the latest escalation, Trump had expressed optimism about reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran, although no breakthrough has been announced.
Pakistan has been leading mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, but major differences remain over Iran's nuclear programme and sanctions relief.
The United States wants Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Tehran insists on sanctions relief and access to frozen assets before any final agreement is reached.
Meanwhile, the conflict involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah group remains a major concern for Tehran.
Lebanese Army chief Gen. Rodolphe Haykal visited Pakistan on Tuesday and met Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has played a central role in efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States.
The visit came as Lebanon's government adopts a tougher stance on Hezbollah while continuing to face difficulties in disarming the powerful armed group.
Hezbollah on Tuesday thanked Iran for attacking Israel "in defense of our Lebanese people" and suggested Beirut should take steps to improve relations with Tehran.