U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Iran — Defense Stocks, ETFs On Watch

The U.S. military launched strikes against Iran Tuesday evening in direct retaliation for the downing of an American Apache helicopter on Monday.

• IDEF shares are climbing. See the chart and price action here.

U.S. Central Command announced the action on X:

“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) 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,” CENTCOM said in the post.

CENTCOM called the mission “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) 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. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026

Defense Stocks, ETFs On Watch

Defense stocks moved in after-hours trading on the news.

The iShares Defense Industrials Act ETF (NASDAQ:IDEF) was the sharpest mover, surging 10.41% to $35.20.

General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:GD) added 1.22% to $349.89 and Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) was essentially flat at $530.23.

RTX Corp. (NYSE:RTX) — maker of the Patriot missile system and Tomahawk cruise missile — edged up 0.25% to $182.02.

The iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (BATS:ITA) and State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSE:XAR) held their close prices at $230.34 and $273.30, respectively.

Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE:NOC) and L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:LHX) were both flat after hours at $548.15 and $308.24.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) was also flat, trading after hours at publication at $132.19.

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