President Trump blamed Iran for shooting down a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and promised a military response to the incident.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman early Tuesday morning during a patrol operation, according to US Central Command. The two crew members aboard were rescued in an unprecedented operation using an unmanned drone boat after spending about two hours in the water.
Trump announced Iran's responsibility through a post on his Truth Social platform. "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," he wrote. He confirmed the pilots were safe and uninjured but stated that "the United States must, of necessity, respond to the attack."
The crash occurred as tensions in the Middle East remained high following an exchange of fire between Iran and Israel on Monday. That conflict marked the most serious escalation in the strained ceasefire since the broader Iran war began on February 28. Iranian state television reported that Israeli attacks killed at least two members of Iran's air defense units.
The wider conflict has disrupted global markets. Energy prices have risen worldwide, and the cost of basic goods including food has increased. The war began after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, but negotiations over a permanent ceasefire agreement have stalled since an initial truce was reached in April.
The unmanned rescue vessel, called a Corsair and measuring 24 feet long, located the two aviators in what military officials described as the first known drone rescue at sea by the US military. Captain Tim Hawkins of US Central Command confirmed the successful retrieval.
Military officials did not initially explain what caused the helicopter to crash, stating it remained under investigation. Apache helicopters have served as key assets for American forces enforcing a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers. The US has used these aircraft to maintain pressure on Tehran in negotiations while also supporting allies like the United Arab Emirates in intercepting Iranian drones.
Trump had previously expressed optimism about negotiations with Iran, suggesting a deal could be reached within two or three days. "We're very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal," he said before the helicopter incident. He acknowledged the US could conduct additional military operations but expressed concern about civilian casualties, saying "a lot of people are going to be killed" if bombing campaigns continued for weeks.