​Middle East Roundup, June 9: Trump says US 'must' respond after claiming Iran downed Apache helicopter

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments

• Netanyahu says told Trump Israel has right to self-defense
• Iran military announces halt to operation against Israel
• Iran says Israel's actions 'can't be separated' from US policy
• Middle East 'does not need an escalation': EU top diplomat
• Israel strikes Iran, defying Trump's call for restraint

Iran FM says armed forces 'will leave no attack or threat unanswered'

Published: June 9, 2026 | 23:02 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that the military will not leave attacks or threats unanswered, as US forces struck parts of the country after the downing of an American helicopter.

"Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination. Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe," Araghchi posted on X after the US attacks, which President Donald Trump described as retaliation for the downed helicopter.

Iranian state broadcaster says situation 'calm' after US strikes near Hormuz

Published: June 9, 2026 | 23:05 GMT | by AFP

Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said strikes along Iran's southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz had stopped after Washington launched them in response to an attack that downed a US helicopter.

"The situation is now reported to be calm," IRIB said on Telegram.

Trump says wants 'very powerful' response to Iran downing helicopter

Published: June 9, 2026 | 22:51 GMT | by AFP

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he wanted a "very powerful" response to Iran shooting down an American helicopter, as the US military announced retaliatory strikes against the Islamic republic.

"This is a response to what they did... with our helicopter last night, and I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that's what this one is," Trump told ABC News.

Blasts heard on Iran's southern coast near Strait of Hormuz: Iranian media

Published: June 9, 2026 | 22:10 GMT | by AFP

Iranian media reported several explosions on Wednesday along Iran's southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz, after Washington announced strikes in response to an attack that downed a US helicopter.

Blasts rang out in several locations in Hormozgan province, including on Qeshm Island and along the coast near the strait, local media said, with some reporting the presence of US fighter jets.

US says it is striking Iran in response to helicopter shootdown

Published: June 9, 2026 | 21:40 GMT | by AFP

US forces carried out "proportional" strikes against Iran on Tuesday in response to the Islamic republic shooting down an Apache attack helicopter the day before, the US military said.

American forces "began launching self-defense strikes against Iran, at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief's direction, in response to yesterday's downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter," US Central Command said in a post on X.

"The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression," it added.

Iran FM says foreign forces face 'constant risk' of being caught in crossfire

Published: June 9, 2026 | 20:24 GMT | by AFP

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged foreign forces on Tuesday to leave the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas, warning they faced a persistent risk of being caught in the crossfire if they remained.

"The Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters but shared between Iran and Oman... 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," Araghchi posted on X.

"To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave," he added, after US President Donald Trump vowed a response following accusations that Iran shot down an Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.

Trump says US 'must' respond after Iran downs Apache helicopter

Published: June 9, 2026 | 16:37 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that a US military helicopter was shot down by Iran and that the United States "must" respond.

The Apache helicopter is the second crewed aircraft that Washington has confirmed was shot down by Iran during the Middle East war, following the loss of an F-15 fighter plane in April.

The downing and the prospect of a US response pose the latest of a series of threats to a shaky ceasefire that has been in place since April 8, as the United States and Iran struggle to negotiate an end to the war.

In a statement, Trump said he had been informed "that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz."

While the crew members were uninjured, "the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack."

Earlier today, The New York Times reported it was not clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian ⁠fire, ⁠experienced mechanical failure or encountered some other problem.

Oil falls below $90 a barrel on hopes of Iran deal

Published: June 9, 2026 | 15:26 GMT | by AFP

Oil prices fell around 5% to below $90 a barrel on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump again said an Iran peace deal could be close.

The international benchmark Brent crude fell below $90 for the first time since April 14, while its US counterpart, West Texas Intermediate crude, fell to around $86 a barrel.

The relief came just a day after crude surged as Iran and Israel briefly resumed strikes amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East war.

Israel minister Smotrich banned from France

Published: June 9, 2026 | 12:45 GMT | by AFP

France banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country on Tuesday, the French foreign minister said, slamming him for actively promoting the annexation of the West Bank and the "re-colonization" of Gaza.

"Four leaders of settler organizations, and twenty-one violent settlers" were also banned from French territory, Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X, condemning a "policy that the overwhelming majority of the international community, firmly committed to the two-state solution, cannot accept".

The minister said the announcement "imposing new sanctions on those responsible for the intensification of settlement-building and violence in the West Bank" was in tandem with Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

Smotrich, of the far-right Religious Zionist party, is the second Israeli minister France has banned from its territory in recent months.

Last month, France banned National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for mocking bound activists seized by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying aid for the besieged Palestinian territory.

Let's sit and talk: Lebanese president appeals to Israeli govt to pursue peace  

Published: June 9, 2026 | 10:13 GMT | by Web Desk

The Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, has appealed to the Israeli government to pursue talks. He said this in a CNN interview, shared on the Lebanese Presidency's social media page on Tuesday.

In response to a question by a CNN anchor, "What would you say to the Israeli government and the Israeli people right now?", the Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated, "Do you really want to live in a perpetual war? Aren't you fed up with wars since 1948? Do you really want to live in peace? Let's sit and talk."

Addressing the Israeli government, the Lebanese president said, "For the Israeli government, it's the time for the power of reason to prevail over the reason of power. Military activities or military solution will never provide you with security and safety to the northern people."

"We are ready to sit and talk. Our people along the border are fed up with wars, but you need to show some willingness and commitment to end this war (for the sake of both people on both sides of the border. We are ready. We are willing. We are committed. Are you? If you are, let's sit and talk."

Israel one of the most aggressive as world conflicts hit peak in 2025: Report

Published: June 9, 2026 | 09:45 GMT | by Web Desk

The world saw the highest number of state conflicts since the Second World War in 2025, a Norwegian study said on Tuesday, warning of a surge in attacks targeting civilians.

The annual "Conflict Trends" report from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) said 65 conflicts involving at least one state were recorded worldwide last year, a new high since 1946.

The PRIO study is based on figures compiled by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, attached to Uppsala University.

Researcher Siri Aas Rustad told a group of media outlets, including AFP, Israel was "clearly one of the most aggressive countries in the world at the moment", pointing to its involvement in different types of conflicts in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, against Iran, and against Houthi rebels.

Trump says ‘pilots are fine’ after report helicopter went down near Hormuz

Published: June 9 2026 | 08:45 GMT | by Web Desk

A US Army Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, and both crew members were rescued safely, according to a report from The New York Times.

It was not immediately ‌clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian ⁠fire, ⁠experienced mechanical failure or encountered some other problem, the report said.

US President Donald Trump said “the pilots are fine” after being asked about the report, CNN reported.

Israeli strike kills eight in Lebanon

Published: June 9, 2026 | 08:27 GMT | by Web Desk

An Israeli airstrike has killed at least eight people in the Lebanese city of Tyre, Al Jazeera reported, quoting civil defense. 

The strike came shortly after the evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military for Tyre. 

Indonesia's central bank unveils surprise rate hike to stem rupiah rout

Published: June 9, 2026 | 07:43 GMT | by AFP

Indonesia's central bank announced a surprise 25-basis-point interest rate hike on Tuesday, citing "high global volatility" and concerns over currency stability.

More than a week before its next monthly monetary policy meeting, officials lifted borrowing costs to 5.5%, following an unexpected 50-point increase last month aimed at stabilizing the weakening rupiah and battling inflation.

Jakarta's main stock index rose nearly five percent in Tuesday morning trade. Stung by surging energy costs, the rupiah has fallen to more than 18,000 to the dollar, a record low.

The country's stock market has lost a third of its value in 2026. 

"This increase is a further step to strengthen the stability of the rupiah exchange rate against the impact of high global volatility due to the war in the Middle East," the central bank said in a statement.

Israel army calls for evacuation of Lebanon's Tyre, surrounding areas

Published: June 9, 2026 | 07:35 GMT | by AFP

The Israeli army on Tuesday called on residents of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre and its surrounding areas to evacuate ahead of expected strikes.

"Urgent warning to the residents of the city of Tyre, including the Christian quarter, and the camps and surrounding neighborhoods," read a message posted on X by the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee.

"For your safety, we ask you to immediately evacuate your homes... and move north of the Zahrani River."

Joint statement calls for humanitarian access in Gaza 

Published: June 9, 2026 | 06:55 GMT | by AFP

A joint statement signed by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and other countries has called for humanitarian access in Gaza, said a post shared on X by the Dutch Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. 

The statement said, "The recent decision by the Israeli High Court to reject the INGOs’ appeal regarding the registration law is deeply concerning."

"The registration law will affect and severely limit the INGO’s capacity to respond inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem." 

The statement further said, "We call on Israel, the occupying power in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law."

Trump says in 'final throes' of Middle East peace deal

Published: June 9, 2026 | 04:55 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was in the "final throes" of reaching a Middle East peace deal.

"We're in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal," he told reporters on his return from an NBA Finals game.

When asked whether it would be a matter of days or weeks, he said it would take "two or three days."

‘Not seeking war but defending values’ says Iran’s vice president

Published: June 9, 2026 | 02:19 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif said that Israel was “forced to beg once again” for a ceasefire with Iran after the recent missiles launched from Tehran.

“We do not seek war, but in defending our soil and our values, we will not hesitate for a moment,” he said in a post on X.

Iran airspace returns to normal: media

Published: June 9, 2026 | 01:27 GMT | by Web Desk

Iran’s civil aviation organizations announced that the country’s airspace returned to normal, according to reports from semi-official media outlets such as Tasnim Agency.

The reports also mentioned the reopening of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport.

Objective is ending war not normalizing ties with US: Ghalibaf

Published: June 9, 2026 | 00:30 GMT | by Web Desk

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf blamed recent regional tensions on ceasefire violations by the US and Israel, emphasizing that the ongoing talks are aimed solely at sustainable peace, rejecting any normalization of ties with the US.

“Our objective is to end the war and establish lasting security, not to normalize relations with the United States,” he said in an audio message addressed to the public.

“We have no trust in the opposite side,” he added.

Read our June 8 live blog for earlier developments here