Trump vows response after Iran shoots down U.S. helicopter

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Iran shot down a U.S. Apache attack helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, vowing that the United States would retaliate.

The helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman during the night. U.S. military officials confirmed the incident Tuesday afternoon but did not immediately specify the cause. Trump stated on Truth Social that two pilots were involved but are safe and unharmed. "We must, out of necessity, respond to this attack," he wrote.

Sources told CNN that an Iranian Shahed drone struck the helicopter. U.S. military officials told Reuters that the pilots were located and rescued using an unmanned drone boat.

Iran has not confirmed the attack. However, its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the Strait of Hormuz is not international waters and is far from the U.S. coast. He added that Iran's armed forces are always ready to intervene against violations. "The best solution would be for foreign forces to leave an environment where they will always be seen as hostile," Araghchi wrote.

The incident unfolds as Trump seeks a deal to end a conflict that has lasted over 100 days. On Monday, he reportedly persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt attacks on Iran. State media in Iran reported Tuesday that three people were killed in Israeli attacks, two of whom were part of the country's air defense. Israel reported no fatalities from Iranian missile barrages.

The pause in broader conflict appears fragile. Israel has vowed to continue attacks in southern Lebanon, carrying out strikes on the city of Tyre on Tuesday in response to new attacks from Hezbollah. At least eight people were killed and 32 injured, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Iran had warned it would resume attacks with a "more serious and powerful" response if Israel continued its assaults in Lebanon.