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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran was responsible for shooting down a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and declared that the United States “must” respond to the incident.
In a statement, Trump said he had been informed by the military that Iran downed the helicopter during operations over the strategically important waterway. He did not immediately provide details on the nature of the attack or what form a U.S. response might take.
The incident marks a potentially significant escalation in already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s comments came as the administration continues negotiations aimed at securing a broader agreement with Iran following months of military clashes and regional instability.
Crew Rescued
Despite Trump’s assertion that Iran shot down the aircraft, U.S. military officials have not yet publicly confirmed the cause of the crash.
According to U.S. Central Command, both crew members were rescued approximately two hours after the helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the pilots were in stable condition and suffered no serious injuries.
Strategic Waterway
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints, with a significant portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow waterway.
The helicopter crash occurred amid continuing military activity in the region and only days after U.S. forces reportedly intercepted Iranian drones threatening maritime traffic near the strait.
While Trump emphasized that the United States would respond, he also continued to express optimism that a broader diplomatic agreement with Iran could still be reached in the coming days.
At the time of publication, the Pentagon had not released a formal assessment confirming that Iranian forces shot down the aircraft.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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