Trump vows retaliation after Iran shoots down U.S. Apache helicopter

President Donald Trump announced that Iran shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter during a patrol over the Strait of Hormuz, vowing that the United States would retaliate.

"I have just been informed by our great military people that Iran, in the air, shot down our highly sophisticated Apache helicopter while it was flying over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump stated on Truth Social. He confirmed that two pilots were involved and are safe and unharmed, but emphasized that "the United States must, of course, respond to this attack."

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I have just been informed by our great military people that Iran, in the air, shot down our highly sophisticated Apache helicopter while it was flying over the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed that two pilots were rescued from a maritime area in the Middle East after their aircraft crashed off the coast of Oman. Captain Timothy Hawkins, a spokesperson for the command, stated that a U.S. Navy drone, identified as a surface drone, located and rescued the crew. The pilots were then transferred to another location on the water and boarded a helicopter.

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Two pilots were rescued from a maritime area in the Middle East after their aircraft crashed off the coast of Oman.

While the pilots sustained injuries, they are not considered life-threatening, and both received medical attention following their rescue. The specific U.S. response to the Iranian action remains undetermined. This incident marks the first loss of an Apache helicopter since the conflict with Iran escalated.

Apache helicopters are primarily utilized for precision attacks, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance. They have previously been employed to target Iranian small boats as part of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The incident occurred amidst heightened regional tensions, following direct exchanges of fire between Iran and Israel over the weekend. Iran had previously used fast boats, naval mines, and drones to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supply.

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The United States must, of course, respond to this attack.