Iran shot down US Apache helicopter over Hormuz, says Trump; warns of retaliation

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed that the Apache helicopter that went down over the Strait of Hormuz yesterday was shot down by Iran, warning Tehran of retaliation.

“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 said on Truth Social.

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He further said that there were two pilots involved and both were safely rescued unharmed. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” Trump added.

According to the US Military’s Central Command, an unmanned surface drone was deployed to help rescue the two crew members near the coast of Oman.

“The drone picked them up and transported them to another location on the water where they were then hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport,” said Tim Hawkins, Central Command spokesman.

The attack helicopter was shot down by Iran over the Strait of Hormuz when it was patrolling regional waters.

The incident raises serious questions about Trump’s repeated claims that the US has completely destroyed Iran’s Navy and Air Force to achieve his war goals.

The latest escalation now threatens the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that has been barely holding up.

It has also cast aspersions on the ongoing peace negotiations between the two countries.

Trump had earlier claimed that the negotiations for a deal with Iran on ending the war were in the final stages and that a breakthrough could be achieved in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Israel today launched fresh airstrikes on the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens more.

The Israeli strikes came despite a new US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

Both countries exchanged strikes over the weekend but stopped the attacks after Trump’s intervention.