Trump: US ‘must respond’ after Iran downed army helicopter near Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for downing a US Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday and said the United States ‘must respond’ to the attack.

A drone boat rescued two army aviators who were aboard the Apache attack helicopter when it went down near the waterway that Iran has effectively closed during its war with the US and Israel.

Mr Trump said in a social media post that military officials told him “the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters”. He added that both service members “are safe and uninjured.”

The United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack

“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” Mr Trump wrote.

The helicopter went down as the Middle East was still reeling after Iran and Israel exchanged fire the previous day in the biggest blow yet to the strained ceasefire in the Iran war.

Iranian state television reported Tuesday that the Israeli attacks killed at least two members of the country’s air defence units.

Since the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, the war has shaken the global economy, driven up energy prices around the world and made many basics, including food, more expensive.

Officials have been unable to turn the April ceasefire into a deal to end the conflict permanently, particularly as Israel intensifies and expands its military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.

The crash happened about 3.30am local time on Tuesday off the coast of Oman while the helicopter was on a patrol, US Central Command said.

An unmanned boat located the two aviators after they spent about two hours in the water, said Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command. He said it was the first known drone rescue at sea by the US military.

Military officials did not say what caused the Apache helicopter to go down, saying the crash was under investigation. Mr Trump said he had just learned Iran was responsible before posting his accusation on Tuesday.

AH-64 Apache helicopters have been a key asset for the American military as it enforces a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers, seeking to pressure Tehran into a deal. The helicopters have also been used by the United Arab Emirates to shoot down Iranian drones.

The drone used to perform the rescue was a 24-foot (7.3-metre) vessel called a Corsair, Capt Hawkins said. It is manufactured by Saronic Technologies.

The drone was assigned to the US Navy’s Task Force 59, established in 2021 as the navy’s first uncrewed and artificial intelligence unit that focuses on maritime security in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal.

Before he accused Iran of downing the helicopter, Mr Trump had expressed renewed optimism over negotiations with Iran.

“We have a good chance” of signing a deal in “two or three days,” he said. But he did not provide any details on why there was reason for new optimism.

In the two months since the US and Iran agreed to an initial ceasefire, Mr Trump has repeatedly predicted that a deal is near.

“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” the president said.

“If we go and bomb – which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing – they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”