Middle East crisis live: Iran launches broad retaliatory attacks after US strikes over downed helicopter

Key Points:

• The US launched multiple waves of strikes on Iran following the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which collided with an Iranian drone; President Trump initially downplayed the incident but later insisted on a response.
• Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting US bases in the region, including claims of strikes on a US airbase in Jordan, while Gulf neighbors Kuwait and Bahrain activated air defenses amid the escalating conflict.
• Iran’s foreign minister condemned the US strikes as violations of sovereignty and warned Gulf countries of their “legal and moral responsibility” to prevent US and Israeli attacks from their territories.
• Analysts warn that without meaningful sanctions relief from the US, Iran is unlikely to change its stance, and continued confrontations risk spiraling into a broader military conflict despite ongoing ceasefire agreements.
• The escalation has unsettled global markets, causing Asian shares to fall and oil prices to rise amid fears of prolonged conflict and supply disruptions in the Middle East.