US President Donald Trump said that Iran shot down a US Army Apache helicopter that was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz overnight, adding that “the United States must respond to this attack.”
In remarks made on Tuesday, Trump blamed Iran for the incident, while the US Central Command has yet to confirm the cause of the helicopter crash, merely indicating that investigations are still underway.
“Just been informed by our great military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our state-of-the-art Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump said the incident involved two pilots, confirming that they were “safe and unharmed.”
He added, "However, the United States must, by necessity, respond to this attack."
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that foreign forces near Iran “are in constant danger due to human errors, accidents, or the possibility of being caught in the crossfire,” calling on these forces to leave the region, adding in a post on the “X” platform that “the best solution to reduce risks is to leave.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the US Central Command announced that an Apache attack helicopter crashed while conducting a patrol off the coast of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz, early Tuesday morning local time, noting that its crew of two pilots was rescued within about two hours of the incident.
Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins explained that a U.S. Navy drone boat, about 24 feet long, found the pilots after they had been in the water for about two hours, before bringing them ashore in stable condition.
Trump also confirmed in earlier remarks from John F. Kennedy Airport that the pilots were “safe and no one was hurt,” noting that his administration would issue an official report later on the circumstances of the incident.
Meanwhile, media reports, including those from the New York Times, indicated that the helicopter crashed while on a maritime patrol near the Strait of Hormuz, with multiple hypotheses being considered, including a technical malfunction or possible targeting, without any official confirmation yet.
The AH-64 Apache helicopters are among the most prominent offensive assets of the US Army, and are used for reconnaissance, close air support, precision strikes, and monitoring navigation in sensitive sea lanes.
The incident comes amid escalating regional tensions, following an exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel in recent days, before a ceasefire was declared, amid US efforts to contain the escalation and prevent its spread in the region.
Tags:
america
