Overnight, the U.S. reported Iranian forces had shot down one of its helicopters over the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, U.S. officials said American forces “completed self-defense strikes against Iran”.
Iran says it has since struck U.S. navy infrastructure in Bahrain. Kuwait and Jordan have also said they have intercepted missiles, and at least one Iranian missile landed in Syria (pictured).
Authorities in Bahrain, which shares an official maritime border with Iran, have sounded emergency alarms and told citizens to seek safety.
Here’s what’s going on.
Background
In April, the U.S. and Iran extended their ceasefire indefinitely. President Donald Trump said the agreement would last until Iran submits a long-term proposal.
There have been several rounds of negotiations and strikes since then.
Talks have centred on two key issues:
- The nature and future of Iran’s nuclear program
- Israel’s conflict with Lebanon. The U.S. is Israel’s closest ally, while Iran supports the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah, which Australia lists as a terrorist organisation.
Iran-Israel strikes
Hezbollah launched an attack on northern Israel this week. Israeli forces responded with strikes on suburbs of Beirut (the Lebanese capital) which they say were being used as Hezbollah bases.
Iran then struck Israel, which it said was “in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon”. It said it would continue them if Israel continues to strike southern Lebanon.
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Trump then posted to Truth Social saying Iran and Israel were “looking to do an immediate ceasefire,” with negotiations progressing “subject to ignorance or stupidity”.
U.S-Iran strikes
On Monday night (U.S. eastern time), Iran struck a U.S. army helicopter with two crew onboard.
The crew members were rescued alive. The U.S. said the helicopter had been shot down “near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters,” i.e. the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post to Telegram, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait is not “in international waters,” but belongs to Iran and Oman.
“If you want to be safe, it is best to leave our region,” he added.
Trump posted to Truth Social after Iran shot down the helicopter, saying that despite the crew being unharmed, “the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
The U.S. then said it had struck “air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz”.
Iranian state media reported the U.S. had hit civilian water infrastructure in a city on the coast of the Strait.
In the following hours, Iranian state media reported Iran had struck U.S. navy infrastructure in Bahrain, while Kuwaiti and Jordanian authorities said they had intercepted missiles.
Australia
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Government was “very worried both about the human impact [and] the economic impact.”
He said the conflict meant “the global economy will get worse rather than better,” which was affecting Australia “each and every day.”
“A de-escalation of the conflict... is in everyone’s interest,” Albanese added.
