DUBAI — Iran shot down a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. military officials, in an incident that further heightened tensions in the strategically important waterway.
The helicopter went down while conducting a patrol mission near the coast of Oman on Monday, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. Two crew members aboard the aircraft were rescued and were reported to be in stable condition. Trump said both service members were “safe and uninjured.”
In a social media statement on Tuesday, Trump said Iran had shot down the helicopter and vowed that the United States would respond. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” Trump wrote.
U.S. officials said the aircraft was operating near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes. The incident occurred amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran and following months of military exchanges involving Iran, the United States and regional allies.
According to U.S. military statements and media reports citing officials, the helicopter was recovered after a rescue operation involving U.S. naval and air assets. A U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel was reported to have played a role in locating and assisting the crew.
Details surrounding the downing remain limited. While Trump and several U.S. officials attributed the incident to Iranian action, earlier reports had noted that the cause of the helicopter’s loss was under investigation and that it was initially unclear whether it had been shot down or experienced another type of failure.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did not directly confirm responsibility for the incident. According to multiple reports, he said foreign military forces operating in the region risked becoming involved in accidents or crossfire.
The incident came during a period of diplomatic uncertainty and security concerns in the Gulf region. The downing of the helicopter raised questions about the durability of recent efforts to reduce hostilities between the United States and Iran.
As of Wednesday, both crew members had been rescued, and U.S. officials said they remained safe. U.S. military officials said the situation continued to develop, while details regarding the circumstances of the helicopter’s loss remained under review.
