US President Donald Trump said the United States would have to respond after Iran allegedly shot down a US Army Apache helicopter patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz, though the US military has not publicly confirmed that the aircraft was brought down by hostile fire.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed by the military that Iranian forces shot down a “highly sophisticated Apache Helicopter” during operations in the strategically important waterway. He added that both pilots survived the incident without injuries.
“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” Trump wrote.
The comments came after US Central Command confirmed that an AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman at around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday while conducting a patrol mission in regional waters. The military did not provide a cause for the incident and said an investigation was underway.
“The soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” Central Command said in a statement.
RESCUE OPERATION CARRIED OUT WITH UNNAMED SURFACE VESSEL
In a first for the US military, the rescue operation was carried out with the assistance of an unmanned surface vessel. According to Reuters, a US Navy Corsair autonomous surface drone located and recovered the two crew members from the water before transporting them to another location, where they were hoisted aboard a helicopter.
Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Central Command, said the drone was selected because of its proximity and operational capabilities. The Corsair is a 24-foot autonomous vessel capable of travelling long distances while carrying significant payloads.
The rescue highlights the growing role of unmanned systems in military operations. The US Navy’s Task Force 59, based in the region, has been tasked with integrating autonomous technologies and artificial intelligence into maritime missions.
‘NOBODY INJURED’
Earlier in the day, Trump told reporters at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport that “nobody injured” in the incident. However, the military used more cautious language, describing the rescued personnel as being in stable condition.
Apache helicopters are designed for precision strikes, close air support missions and aerial reconnaissance. The aircraft have also been used in operations targeting Iranian fast boats as part of US efforts to enforce maritime restrictions around Iranian ports.
A May report by the Congressional Research Service stated that the US military has suffered significant equipment losses since the conflict with Iran began in late February. The reported losses include at least five fighter jets, seven KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, a search-and-rescue helicopter and more than two dozen drones.
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