The U.S. military said on Tuesday (June 9, 2026) it has begun strikes against Iran following the crash of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter off the coast of Oman that U.S. President Donald Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic.

In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Central Command said the strikes would be “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression”. It comes after Mr. Trump blamed Iran for downing the helicopter and vowed that the U.S. would respond.

Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Trump had blamed Iran for shooting down a helicopter close to the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States must respond. Iran’s top diplomat said foreign military forces near the country’s territory “are at constant risk”.

Araghchi’s warning to Trump’s accusation

The U.S. Army Apache helicopter that crashed off the coast of Oman went down after colliding with an Iranian drone, according a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

It is not clear whether the collision was intentional, and official statements only said the crash is under investigation. CNN, CBS News and other outlets earlier reported the Iranian drone collision.

President Donald Trump said Iran shot down the aircraft while it was on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz and declared that the U.S. “must, of necessity, respond to this attack”, in a post to social media.

The U.S. military later announced that it had begun strikes against Iran. Iranian state media is reporting that explosions have been heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the first known operation of its kind by the American military, a drone boat rescued the two aviators who were aboard the Apache attack helicopter when it went down near the critical shipping lane that Iran has effectively closed during its war with the U.S. and Israel.

Soon after Mr. Trump made his accusation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that the strait is “thousands of miles away from U.S. shores”.

“Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” Mr. Araghchi wrote. “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.”

The U.S. military said on Tuesday (June 9, 2026) it has begun strikes against Iran following the crash of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter off the coast of Oman that U.S. President Donald Trump blamed on the Islamic Republic.

In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Central Command said the strikes would be “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression”. It comes after Mr. Trump blamed Iran for downing the helicopter and vowed that the U.S. would respond.

Iranian state media reported that explosions were heard on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Trump had blamed Iran for shooting down a helicopter close to the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States must respond. Iran’s top diplomat said foreign military forces near the country’s territory “are at constant risk”.

Araghchi’s warning to Trump’s accusation

The U.S. Army Apache helicopter that crashed off the coast of Oman went down after colliding with an Iranian drone, according a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.

It is not clear whether the collision was intentional, and official statements only said the crash is under investigation. CNN, CBS News and other outlets earlier reported the Iranian drone collision.

President Donald Trump said Iran shot down the aircraft while it was on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz and declared that the U.S. “must, of necessity, respond to this attack”, in a post to social media.

The U.S. military later announced that it had begun strikes against Iran. Iranian state media is reporting that explosions have been heard on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the first known operation of its kind by the American military, a drone boat rescued the two aviators who were aboard the Apache attack helicopter when it went down near the critical shipping lane that Iran has effectively closed during its war with the U.S. and Israel.

Soon after Mr. Trump made his accusation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said in a social media post that the strait is “thousands of miles away from U.S. shores”.

“Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” Mr. Araghchi wrote. “To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday (January 15, 2026) appointed a nodal officer to coordinate with the Centre and diplomatic authorities for the safety and possible evacuation of residents and students from the Union Territory stranded in Iran amid the prevailing tension there.

In a related development, the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) claimed that the first batch of students is likely to return to India on Friday (January 16, 2026).

According to a government order issued by the General Administration Department, Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Sharma has been designated as the officer for coordination and liaison in respect of residents and students of Jammu and Kashmir presently residing or studying in Iran.

The officer has been tasked with coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India, the concerned Indian embassy and consular authorities, and other relevant agencies to facilitate information sharing, coordination and necessary interventions relating to the safety, welfare, travel facilitation and related matters of students from the Union Territory.

The great reckoning: On the crises in Iran

The appointment comes amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Iran following widespread protests and rising fears of further escalation, prompting concerns among families of Indian students, particularly those from Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday (January 15, 2026) said he spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar regarding the evolving situation in Iran and was assured that all necessary steps were being taken to safeguard the interests of students from Jammu and Kashmir caught in the turmoil.

India has already advised its nationals residing in Iran to leave the country by available means and avoid any further travel there.

Meanwhile, the JKSA said Iran has reopened its airspace to civilian traffic after a temporary closure, bringing a measure of relief to anxious students and their families. The association claimed that the first evacuation flight from Tehran to Delhi is scheduled to depart on Friday (January 16, 2026).

“All students have been duly registered, the Indian embassy has collected their personal details and passports, and the first batch has been informed to remain ready by 8 a.m.,” the JKSA said in a statement.

It further said students from Golestan University, along with a few students from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, are likely to be part of the first evacuation batch.

The final passenger list is expected to be shared later on Thursday (January 15, 2026) once confirmed by the authorities, it said.

The JKSA said it has been in touch with several Indian students, including those from Kashmir, studying in Shiraz, Arak and other cities in Iran, many of whom have booked tickets and are expected to arrive from Friday (January 16, 2026) onwards, subject to clearances from the Iranian government and the prevailing security situation.

Parents of Kashmiri students have also appealed to the Centre to ensure the safe return of their children, with several concerned families gathering at the Press Enclave in Srinagar on Wednesday (January 14, 2026) to seek immediate government intervention.