Iran, US again trade shots after downing of American helicopter

The troops of the United States and Iran again traded fire for a US Army helicopter downing over the Strait of Hormuz, which marked the first loss of an Apache since the war began. The Pentagon carried out a series of strikes against military sites south of Iran while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responds by targeting dozens of US bases across Gulf neighbours.

US President Donald Trump declares Tehran must "pay the price" for delay in negotiating a peace deal.

Hostilities flared up again in the morning, further straining the shaky two-month ceasefire.

The US Central Command claims an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman after being hit by a drone early Tuesday. Two aviators aboard were located by an unmanned drone boat, officials say.

US President Donald Trump took to Truth Social and said Iran had shot down the aircraft while it was on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz. Confirming the two American service members are "safe and uninjured," Trump urged the military must "of necessity, respond to this attack." He said: "The pilots are fine, yeah, nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow but the pilots are fine, yeah.

Fighter jets from the US Air Force and Navy began bombing air defence, ground control stations and radar systems along the coastline in southern Iran which they say are being carried out in "self-defense."

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi reacted by stating foreign forces in proximity to Iran's territory are "constant at risk" on account of their own errors, accidents or potentially being caught in crossfire.He wrote in a social media post: "To reduce risk, the best solution is for them to leave."

AP reporter Jon Gambrell said: "In retaliation, Iran has launched attacks targeting the island nation of Bahrain as well as the small Mideast nation of Kuwait. Air defence systems were heard going off in both of those countries and it's unclear what damage has been done. Meanwhile, Iran also has claimed an attack targeting Jordan. That kingdom near Israel had seen attacks targeting it in the Iran war."

"This would be the first since the April ceasefire took effect and it also underlines both Jordan's continued hosting of American aircraft as well as that kingdom's precarious position between Israel and Iran as those two sides had been attacking each other earlier this week as well."

Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly says the Israeli military will continue to maintain a state of readiness to resume combat operations at any time.

China's foreign ministry has expressed concerns about the latest situaiton in Iran, reiterating the appeal for reaching a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire through diplomatic means.

A spokesperson says all relevant parties should remain calm and exercise restraint and stop aggravating confrontations and escalating tensions.