Trump says US ‘must’ respond after Iran shot down US Army helicopter near Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump blamed Iran for downing a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, stating the two aviators aboard were safe after being rescued by a drone boat. This marked the first known U.S. military drone rescue at sea, conducted by a 24-foot Corsair vessel from Task Force 59, the Navy’s uncrewed maritime security unit operating in the region. The helicopter crashed around 3:30 a.m. local time off Oman’s coast during a patrol, with the aviators spending two hours in the water before rescue. Military officials confirmed the incident is under investigation, though Trump claimed Iran was responsible. The Apache helicopters have been used to enforce a blockade on Iranian oil shipments and counter Iranian drone threats in the area. Trump’s accusation came amid escalating tensions, as Iran and Israel exchanged fire the day before, violating a two-month ceasefire. Iranian state media reported Israeli strikes killed at least two Iranian air-defense personnel. The fragile truce has failed to yield a permanent deal, with negotiations led by Pakistan stalled due to hardline positions from both sides. Earlier, Trump had expressed optimism about reaching an Iran deal within days, warning that prolonged bombing could prolong the conflict and close the Strait of Hormuz for months. He emphasized the human cost of further military action, stating that while the U.S. could easily retaliate, he preferred diplomacy. The incident highlights ongoing risks in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane, as the U.S. and Iran remain locked in indirect conflict. The U.S. demands Iran surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a key sticking point in negotiations.