The U.S. military launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday evening as President Donald Trump escalated pressure on Tehran following the downing of an American Army helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted to X.
“The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”
U.S. Central Command forces began launching additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 10, 2026
The latest operation came less than 24 hours after the first round of American strikes targeting Iranian positions tied to the attack on the U.S. helicopter, which officials say was brought down by an Iranian drone near the strategic shipping corridor.
President Trump signaled the escalation earlier Wednesday while speaking to reporters at the White House.
“We’re going to hit them again hard today,” Trump said, while also urging Tehran to agree to a peace arrangement that would include abandoning any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
.@POTUS on Iran: "We hit them hard yesterday and we're going to hit them again hard today… And we'll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal — but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers because you know what? They dealt with some… pic.twitter.com/ScvGn14QFQ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 10, 2026
The White House has framed the military campaign as both retaliatory and preventative, warning Iran that continued attacks on U.S. forces and regional assets will trigger even more severe consequences.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an equally blunt warning during remarks in Florida ahead of the strikes.
“CENTCOM will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard — and we will be,” Hegseth told reporters.
“Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal, to codify what they said they’ve been willing to do, and they haven’t been willing to do it,” he added.
Hegseth accused Tehran of stalling negotiations while continuing military provocations in the region.
“As President Trump said, they’ve been tap, tap, tapping [the US along on making a deal] … instead, they are going to have tap, tap, tap, bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran from the United States of America.”
This story is developing…
🚨 HOLY CRAP! SecWar Pete Hegseth just WALKED OUT saying CENTCOM HQ will be "BUSY TONIGHT" because of impending and overwhelming Iran strikes
"Central Command will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran HARD — AND WE WILL BE!" 🔥
"They've been… https://t.co/unYKyrpqWN pic.twitter.com/Bv6u1QFmzf
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 10, 2026