Iran-US war latest: Trump launches retaliatory strikes after Tehran shoots down American helicopter

Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that the United States “must, of necessity, respond” to the Iranian downing of a US Apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight.

Two American service personnel were rescued from the vital waterway in a stable condition after the $40 million gunship went down, the military said.

In a post on social media, Trump blamed Tehran for the incident and vowed to hit back, just hours after wading in to prevent a full-scale conflict between Iran and Israel.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” he wrote.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

The US and Iran are still nominally held to the April 8 ceasefire agreement while working to find an end to the conflict, now in its fourth month.Trump to massively expand US intelligence sharing with Israel

The US is driving ahead with legislation that massively expands defence and intelligence sharing with Israel and eclipses the English-speaking Five Eyes espionage alliance.

It also legally ties America to a nation accused of crimes against humanity.

A mandatory expansion of the already close ties with Israel will give men like Benjamin Netanyahu, indicted for alleged crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, access to the most sensitive secrets held by the US intelligence community. It is being passed through the Congress with bipartisan backing.

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James Reynolds9 June 2026 21:30In pictures: Israel continues operations in Lebanon on Tuesday, after trading blows with Iran

James Reynolds9 June 2026 21:00Britain has spent almost £1m of taxpayers’ cash holding stalker at centre of Iran prisoner swap plea

Britain has spent almost £1m of taxpayers’ cash holding an Iranian stalker at the centre of a prisoner swap debate for almost 16 years longer than his original minimum term, The Independent can reveal.

Lindsay and Craig Foreman have called for Britain to deport Richard Jan, who was once described as Britain’s worst stalker, because they believe he could be the key to their release from an Iranian jail.

Jan, 59, was first eligible for deportation to Iran after his seven-and-a-half-year minimum tariff expired in August 2010. Despite multiple requests from Iranian officials for his return to the country, Britain has so far refused to remove him.

James Reynolds9 June 2026 20:00Iran tells foreign forces in the area to leave

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said foreign forces in proximity to Iranian territory were at "constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents or potentially being caught in crossfire," asking them to leave.

"To reduce risk, best solution is for them (foreign forces) to leave," he said in a post on X.

His statements come after U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was responsible for the downing of a U.S. apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight which he said Washington must respond to.

James Reynolds9 June 2026 19:55British couple imprisoned in Iran could be exchanged for UK's 'worst stalker'

A British couple jailed for 10 years in Iran has issued a plea for the UK government to deport an Iranian stalker who has spent two decades in a maximum security jail, claiming he is their best hope of securing freedom.

Craig and Lindsay Foreman have accused the government of failing to act on clear signals from Iranian officials that Richard Jan, who was once described as Britain’s worst stalker, is the key to their release.

A joint investigation by The Independent and Sky News has uncovered a 15-year campaign by high-ranking Iranian officials for Jan to receive urgent healthcare in prison and be returned to the country.

James Reynolds9 June 2026 19:00

James Reynolds9 June 2026 18:00Trump says US 'must respond' to helicopter downing

Donald Trump says the US “must, of necessity, respond” to the Iranian downing of an American helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” he writes on Truth Social.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

James Reynolds9 June 2026 17:41Christian leaders in Tyre urge for action after Israel's evacuation warning

Christian religious leaders from Lebanon’s southern port city of Tyre called on the international community and Lebanese officials on Tuesday to act quickly to prevent Israel from attacking the Christian district of the city, as airstrikes on nearby neighborhoods killed eight people and wounded dozens of others.

The Israeli military has issued an evacuation warning for the port city, including the Christian quarter, which has been spared so far.

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James Reynolds9 June 2026 17:00US energy sec says Hormuz traffic improving

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is rising “very meaningfully”.

“I would say rising very meaningfully,” he said today when asked how ship traffic is flowing through the Strait compared to a week or two ago.

Wright made the remarks during an Atlantic Council conference and added that it would take many months to get back to normal flows of energy once the war is over.

Vessel movements on the strait have been largely blocked February, interrupting around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

But some vessels have since begun transiting the narrow waterway bordering Iran, often with transponders turned off and under cover of darkness.

James Reynolds9 June 2026 16:30'Shelter in place' order for US officials in Jerusalem ends

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem says the ‘shelter in place’ order for US government employees and their family members has ended.

James Reynolds9 June 2026 16:01