Trump accuses Iran of downing U.S. helicopter, vows response

President Donald Trump accused Iran on Tuesday of downing a U.S. Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, vowing a response to what he called a "very sophisticated" aircraft.

"Last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social. While he stated that the two pilots were unharmed, he emphasized that "the United States must respond to this attack."

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Last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.

This accusation marks a shift in tone, coming after U.S. diplomacy had been in the "final phase" of negotiations to end a conflict that erupted on February 28. Trump had previously suggested an agreement could be reached within days.

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The United States must respond to this attack.

However, after 100 days of war and a fragile ceasefire, Iran and Israel resumed attacks on Sunday and Monday. The renewed offensive resulted in three deaths, including two military personnel, and 15 injuries in Iran, according to state television. Trump, seeking a way out of the unpopular conflict ahead of midterm elections, had urged both countries to cease hostilities immediately. Iran announced the end of its operation on Monday, followed shortly by Israel.

Before this latest escalation, oil prices had fallen on hopes of a deal, after spiking in recent weeks due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for hydrocarbon transport. In less than 24 hours, Iran launched about thirty missiles against Israel, according to an Israeli military official, in retaliation for an attack on Sunday in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the pro-Iranian Lebanese movement Hezbollah, which killed two people and injured 20.

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We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak many other languages much more fluently. Break your commitments and we will move to the one we master best.