Washington: A US Apache helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump accusing Iran of shooting it down and saying the United States would respond.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had shot down the AH-64 Apache while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.
He said two pilots were involved and both were safe and uninjured. U.S. Central Command said the soldiers were rescued within about two hours and were in stable condition.
CENTCOM said the cause of the incident remained under investigation. The helicopter went down off the coast of Oman while operating in regional waters.
Read: Strait Of Hormuz Pilots Fine, Trump Says
It said a U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel operated by Task Force 59 recovered the two crew members. The incident came during heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Trump said the United States “must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” but military officials had not publicly confirmed hostile fire as the cause.
