Illustrative image. (U.S. Central Command)
United States President Donald Trump confirmed on June 9 that Iranian fire was behind the American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crash near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, vowing to respond.
“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. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added, without elaborating on what a response might look like.
The incident came following serious escalation over the weekend, with Iran and Israel exchanging their first direct strikes since the start of the ceasefire.
In a statement acknowledging the incident earlier in the day, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that both the pilot and the weapons system officer were rescued around two hours after the helicopter went down off the coast of Oman.
Axios later reported that the U.S. was investigating whether Iranian fire hit the helicopter. The news website also provided additional details on the rescue operations.
CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told the website that a U.S. Navy surface drone found the crew in the water and carried out the rescue.
The drone is part of the 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59, which operates maritime drones, sometimes with artificial intellgince, Hawkins added.
Apaches have previously been used to attack Iranian small boats in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as to intercept drones launched from the Islamic Republic over the waterway and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. A fully loaded “flyaway” helicopter of this type could cost well over $50 million.
The upcoming U.S. response will likely be very limited. The crew of the helicopter survived, and recent efforts by Washington to bring the clash between Iran and Israel to an end quickly indicate that the Trump administration does not want the war to resume. Still, Tehran is guaranteed to hit back.
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treason in the united states is doing more damage to the united states than any war.
correct. treason, liars, corruption, politicians and zionist are the main cause of problem to america and everywhere else.
did israel do it ? the desperation of zealotry has conduced many false flag operation to entrap the us in forever war for pirate corporations interest. remember the uss liberty. quagmire
yesterday rob shoot down jizz in my obese americunt anuz derp derp incel
lol, savage american terrorists and pedophiles.