President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused Iran of shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States would respond to the incident.
The helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman during a patrol mission, according to U.S. Central Command. Two crew members aboard the aircraft were rescued and were reported safe after spending about two hours in the water.
“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 on his Truth Social platform. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to the attack.”
Military officials initially did not disclose a cause for the crash and said the incident remained under investigation. Trump later said he had been informed that Iran was responsible.
The downing of the helicopter comes amid continued tensions between the United States and Iran despite an April ceasefire. The region has remained volatile following recent exchanges of fire between Iran and Israel, while efforts to negotiate a broader agreement have yet to produce a lasting settlement.
According to Central Command, the AH-64 Apache went down around 3:30 a.m. local time while operating near the coast of Oman. The two aviators were rescued in what military officials described as the first known U.S. military drone-assisted rescue at sea.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, said an unmanned vessel located the crew members after the crash, The Guardian reported. The 24-foot vessel, known as a Corsair, was used during the operation.
Apache helicopters have played a significant role in U.S. operations in the region, including efforts to enforce a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tanker traffic. The United Arab Emirates has also used the aircraft to intercept Iranian drones.
Trump’s comments came as he expressed renewed optimism about negotiations with Tehran.
“We have a good chance” of signing a deal in “two or three days,” Trump said, though he did not provide details about the basis for that assessment.
The President also reiterated his belief that military action remains an option but said he would prefer a negotiated solution.
“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” Trump said, per The Guardian. “If we go and bomb – which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing – they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”
Trump added that “If we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don’t.”
Iranian officials signaled they were prepared to respond to any escalation. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf posted a warning on social media directed at the United States.
“We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we’ll switch to what we speak best. You ride the horse you saddled!” he wrote.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical waterway for global energy shipments, and disruptions linked to the conflict have contributed to rising oil prices and broader economic uncertainty.
U.S. officials have said one of their primary objectives is reopening the Strait and pursuing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran maintains that its uranium enrichment activities are intended for peaceful purposes, while the Trump administration and Israel have argued the program could provide a pathway to developing nuclear weapons.
For now, the cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation as U.S. and Iranian officials continue to exchange warnings amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
