US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran shot down an American Army Apache helicopter patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that US forces would respond to what he described as an attack by
Tehran. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had been informed by military officials that Iranian forces were responsible for bringing down the aircraft off the coast of Oman late Monday.
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“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote, detailing, “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured.”
“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added.
The two US Army soldiers aboard the Apache were rescued after the crash by an unmanned sea drone, which transported them to a recovery point where they were picked up by a helicopter, a US official told CBS News. Both crew members were reported safe and unharmed. US Central Command had earlier said the cause of the crash remained under investigation and had not publicly attributed the incident to hostile fire.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, carrying a significant share of global oil exports.
Trump’s comments came as he expressed optimism about ongoing efforts to secure a broader West Asia peace agreement. Earlier, the US President said negotiations involving Iran and Israel were in the “final throes” following a fragile halt in hostilities between the two regional rivals.
“They were going back and forth and now they both agreed through me to stop and we’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” Trump told reporters after attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Asked when an agreement could be reached, Trump said it could happen within “two or three days.”
Despite a ceasefire that has been in place since April 8, tensions have remained high. Iran and Israel exchanged fire in recent days after Tehran launched missiles at Israel, prompting retaliatory Israeli strikes. Iran later announced it was halting military operations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “the fire on that front is contained.”
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Tehran has warned it would resume attacks if Israel continues strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, while Netanyahu has vowed Israel would respond “with full force” to any renewed Iranian aggression.
Trump’s allegation that Iran was responsible for the Apache helicopter crash threatens to further complicate diplomatic efforts and raises the prospect of a broader military confrontation in the region.
