Trump Vows America Will Answer After Iran Shoots Down U.S. Helicopter

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will respond after Iran shot down an American Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

“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,” Trump posted to Truth Social. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Trump’s statement came after U.S. Central Command confirmed that an AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Monday evening.

“At 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

The military said both soldiers were rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition. Officials added that the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

The rescue operation marked a historic first for the U.S. military.

The U.S. military reportedly used an unmanned surface vessel powered by artificial intelligence and operated by Task Force 59 to locate and rescue the helicopter crew after the aircraft went down. The drone boat transported the soldiers to another location at sea, where they were later hoisted aboard a helicopter for evacuation.

CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins told CBS News that the rescue was carried out by an unmanned surface drone operated by Task Force 59, a unit within the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain. Officials said it was the first time an unmanned surface vessel had been used in a real-world water rescue operation.

Rescue efforts were led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from Air Force and Navy assets, including Task Force 59 and units assigned to the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and just days after Iran struck Israel with at least 24 missiles for the first time since the ceasefire went into place about two months ago. In response, Israel fired back before both sides agreed to halt attacks at Trump’s request.

Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism that a broader agreement could soon be reached, telling reporters and posting on social media in recent days that negotiations are progressing and that the sides are moving closer to a deal.