United States President Donald Trump has vowed a military response after blaming Iran for shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, in an incident that threatens to escalate tensions just days after a renewed ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: “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.
There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
U.S. Central Command confirmed the Army AH-64 Apache was patrolling regional waters near the coast of Oman when it went down, and said the two crew members were rescued within approximately two hours of the incident and were in stable condition.
The soldiers were recovered using an unmanned boat, which a military spokesperson said was a first for the U.S. military.
A U.S. official said the crew members’ injuries were not serious or believed to be life-threatening but that both required medical attention. This appeared to contradict Trump’s earlier claim that both pilots were “safe and uninjured.”
U.S. Central Command did not say whether Iran shot down the helicopter, stating only that “the cause of the incident is under investigation.”
Iranian media appeared to acknowledge the incident, with the semi-official Mehr News Agency reporting that no claim of responsibility had been made by Iran.
The incident took place amid ongoing U.S.-Iranian negotiations and just a day after Trump brokered a renewed ceasefire between Iran and Israel, raising fears it could ignite a fresh round of escalation.
The U.S. has lost a significant number of aircraft during the Iran war. At least 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35 and seven KC-135 refuelling tankers are among at least 42 total aircraft lost, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report.
(The Whistler)
