US-Iran war updates: Donald Trump vows revenge for helicopter downing, CENTCOM launches strikes

Iran’s semi-offical Fars news agency has reported that two water tanks in the Bemani district of Sirik were struck and destroyed about an hour ago amid escalating military activity in southern Iran.

The reported strike came as a wave of explosions rocked areas near the Strait of Hormuz, with powerful blasts heard in Bandar Abbas and air defence systems activated in Jask, Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas.

Iranian media also reported projectile strikes and multiple explosions in parts of Hormozgan province.

The developments come as US forces continue strikes against targets in southern Iran, further raising tensions in the strategically vital region

US forces have launched a third wave of strikes against Iran, escalating tensions in the Middle East after what US President Donald Trump said was the downing of an American helicopter by Iranian forces.

According to Axios, citing a US official, the latest attacks targeted Iranian air defence and radar systems near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

A series of explosions were earlier reported along Iran’s southern coastline, although Iranian state media later claimed the situation had “returned to calm”.

The fresh strikes mark a significant escalation in the conflict, with Washington reportedly expanding its military response in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has since vowed retaliation, raising fears the confrontation could widen further.

Angus Taylor has indicated he’s open to striking preference deals with One Nation as concerns grow inside Liberal ranks that Pauline Hanson’s rising popularity could see the Opposition Leader lose his own outer Sydney seat at the next election.

Closer cooperation between the rival right-wing parties is also being endorsed by new Liberal Party President and former prime minister Tony Abbott as he prepares to embark on a nationwide listening tour aimed at boosting support for the ailing Coalition.

In a message emailed to Liberal party supporters on Tuesday, Mr Abbott said he wanted to speak to hear their ideas and declared the new Federal executive “will support Angus and his team to continue to be bold and resolute”.

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US officials have reportedly told Israeli TV network N12 that a second wave of strikes has just been launched on Iranian targets.

The US calls the strikes “self defence” over the downing of a US military helicopter, however, Iran has vowed to respond to any and all attacks.

The dangerous escalation is pushing fears of a return to all-out war, as US-Iran peace talks appear to be put on hold.

Asked about the polling numbers that have shown One Nation is the most popular party in the country, Anthony Albanese has a new spin on the old politicians’ line that the only poll that counts is on election day.

“You know what? Primary votes are when people actually put numbers on ballot papers. That’s when a primary vote matters,” the PM told ABC.

“We were successful in the last election. I’m convinced that we will continue to be successful.”

He went on to say that the reality is that people are frustrated and insisted that he and his government are “always” listening to people.

“When everyone seems to acknowledge that the housing system is broken for people, and young people don’t have the same opportunity for home ownership that you and I had when we were younger, then you’ve got to do something about it. We’re doing something about it,” he said.

Back at home, Anthony Albanese said this morning the government has to cut the NDIS back because “you cannot have any program increasing costs by 22 per cent” annually, as it was when Labor took power.

The Prime Minister spoke to ABC TV ahead of the second day of an inquiry into the NDIS cuts.

That inquiry has had more than 4000 submissions, many from people concerned about what the cuts would mean for them or their children.

Mr Albanese said the plans are “sensible changes that go to the heart of what the NDIS was for”.

“I’m really proud being a part of a government that introduced the NDIS. It needs to, though, be sustainable if it’s going to have a future, and what we want to make sure is that those people who need support get support,” he said.

US President Donald Trump has said the “self defence” response to Iran downing a US military helicopter had to be “very strong”.

“I think it’s very important to respond. They shot down a helicopter, and we are responding as we speak,” he told ABC News on Tuesday.

“I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that’s what this one is.”

Iran had publicly mocked the US with a new AI video about the military Apache helicopter that went down near the Strait of Hormuz.

The video, which is AI-created and features Lego-style characters, says the US is continuing to move the timeline of when a deal will be done, expecting Iran to fold.

The Prime Minister has reiterated calls for a de-escalation in the Middle East, revealing he is receiving rapid updates on the Strait of Hormuz.

Anthony Albanese has already had two briefings this morning on the status of key waterway and added that’s become the new normal, for the vital shipping route to be declared open, then closed, then open again.

“It makes it very difficult to deal with the consequences,” he told ABC Radio.

“We want to see peace break out in the region in a permanent way, because this is obviously having a human impact on the region, but it’s having an impact on the entire globe.”

He said US President Donald Trump, overnight, was “clearly responding to the downing of the Apache helicopter,” but said ending the conflict would be in the interests of the American people as well as others around the world.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told the US to leave Iran if it wants to “be safe”.

“Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the U.S. opted to test our determination,” he said in a statement after the US launched fresh strikes on Iran.

“Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered.

“Leave our region if you want to be safe.

“History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders.”

It comes after he earlier insinuated a US military had gone down due to US human error.

“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.”