9. June 2026
Trump Threatens U.S. Retaliation After Claiming Iran Downed Apache Helicopter
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed that the United States would respond, escalating tensions as Washington and Tehran continue negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East.
"The Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz," Trump wrote on Truth Social, saying he had been briefed by military officials.
"There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured," Trump added. "Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack."
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss preliminary findings, said initial indications suggested the helicopter may have been brought down by an Iranian drone. The Pentagon has not publicly released evidence supporting that assessment, and military officials said the incident remains under investigation.
Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Central Command said the two crew members were rescued after the helicopter went down off the coast of Oman. The rescue marked what officials described as the first successful recovery of American personnel by an unmanned surface vessel.
Capt. Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said a Task Force 59 drone boat located and rescued the soldiers. "The task force began fielding these drones in theater in late March," Hawkins told NBC News.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said the soldiers were rescued within approximately two hours and were in stable condition. The command identified the aircraft as a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache conducting a patrol mission over regional waters.
A U.S. official said the crew members suffered injuries that were not considered serious or life-threatening but required medical treatment.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi did not directly address Trump's allegation that Iran was responsible for the helicopter's loss. However, he suggested that U.S. military forces operating near Iranian territory assume significant risks.
"Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire," Araghchi wrote on X. "To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave. We prefer language of diplomacy but speak other languages too."
Iranian state-affiliated media acknowledged the incident but reported that Tehran had not claimed responsibility. As of Tuesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guard had not issued a public statement regarding the helicopter's downing.
The incident comes amid renewed uncertainty in the region after Iran and Israel reportedly exchanged direct attacks for the first time since an April ceasefire, raising fears that the conflict could return to a broader war.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of international concern. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes through the narrow waterway, which links the Persian Gulf to global markets.
Trump has repeatedly said reopening the strait is a central objective of ongoing negotiations with Iran.
Speaking to reporters earlier Tuesday, Trump expressed optimism that a diplomatic agreement could be imminent.
"We're in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal that will not allow in any way, shape or form nuclear weapons," Trump said.
"The strait will open up right away. It'll open up immediately upon signing, which could be in two or three days," he added, before suggesting a deal could be reached even faster. "It could be done in one hour, if you want to know the truth."
Asked about obstacles remaining in the negotiations, Trump replied, "I don't think there are any sticking points."
"I think we're very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal," he said. An agreement, he added, would be preferable to military action and "actually stronger than doing the bombing."
Trump made similar predictions in recent weeks, though no formal agreement has yet been announced.
The president also sought to downplay concerns about the safety of U.S. forces in the region during an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday.
"We have the best offense anyone's ever seen. So I don't consider it danger," Trump said. While indicating that American forces could remain deployed, he added, "I think we'll keep them there until such time as we have a completion."
The loss of the Apache helicopter and Trump's promise of retaliation now threaten to complicate those diplomatic efforts, potentially placing new pressure on negotiations that both Washington and Tehran have publicly said they hope will avert a wider conflict.