President Donald Trump has accused Iran of shooting down a US military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington would respond to the incident, raising fresh concerns about tensions despite a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
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The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that two crew members aboard the downed Apache helicopter were rescued and were unharmed.
“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
US officials have not announced what form any response might take. However, military action could threaten efforts to preserve the ceasefire that followed recent exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran.
Iran has not immediately commented on Trump’s accusation. One US official told CBS News that it remained unclear whether the aircraft was intentionally targeted.
Iranian media appeared to acknowledge the incident but stopped short of claiming responsibility. The semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that Iran had not taken responsibility for the helicopter’s loss.
Rising Regional Tensions
The incident comes as Israeli forces continued strikes across southern Lebanon. Tehran has warned that further Israeli military action in the area could prompt renewed retaliatory attacks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said foreign military forces operating near Iran faced ongoing risks from accidents, miscalculations or being caught in crossfire.
“To reduce risk, best solution is for them to leave,” he wrote on X.
Shortly before Trump’s comments, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator in talks with Washington, issued a warning on social media.
“We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we'll switch to what we speak best,” he wrote, adding: “You ride the horse you saddled!”
Ceasefire Under Pressure
Israel and Iran halted direct attacks after exchanging fire over the weekend, the first such confrontation since a truce reached in April.
Trump had urged both countries to “immediately stop ‘shooting’”, saying further hostilities could undermine negotiations aimed at ending the wider regional conflict.
He also expressed optimism about ongoing talks with Tehran, telling reporters that a deal could be reached within “two or three days” and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately afterward.
The helicopter incident, however, may complicate those diplomatic efforts, particularly if Washington concludes that Iran was directly responsible.
Rescue Operation
Centcom said the rescue took place at 19:33 EDT (23:33 GMT) on Monday.
According to the military, the operation was led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from US Air Force and Navy units, including the US Fifth Fleet’s Task Force 59.
A Centcom spokesperson said the pilots were recovered by an unmanned surface vessel operated by Task Force 59, a Bahrain-based unit established in 2024 to integrate unmanned systems into maritime security operations.
The drone transported the crew to another location at sea, where they were subsequently lifted aboard a helicopter and taken to safety.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 10 June 2026