U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran was responsible for bringing down an American Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Washington would respond to what he described as an attack on U.S. forces.
In a post on social media, Trump said he had been briefed by the U.S. military that Iranian forces shot down an AH-64 Apache while it was conducting a patrol over the strategic waterway overnight.
Trump did not provide evidence or details on how the aircraft was allegedly hit, but said the United States had no choice but to act.
His remarks added a new layer of uncertainty to an already tense situation in the Gulf, where military movements and threats around the Strait of Hormuz have raised fears of a broader confrontation.
U.S. Central Command earlier confirmed that two soldiers were rescued after an Army AH-64 Apache went down near the coast of Oman during a patrol mission in regional waters. The command said the crew members were recovered by U.S. forces within roughly two hours and were in stable condition.
CENTCOM has not publicly said the helicopter was shot down. It said the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The gap between Trump’s accusation and the military’s official statement leaves key questions unanswered, including whether the aircraft was hit by hostile fire, suffered a mechanical problem or went down because of another cause.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints, carrying a major share of global oil and gas shipments. Any direct clash involving U.S. and Iranian forces in the area could quickly affect regional security and energy markets.
The helicopter incident comes as tensions remain high following recent military exchanges involving Iran, Israel and U.S.-aligned forces in the region. Washington has increased its warnings against attacks on American personnel, while Tehran has accused the United States and its allies of escalating the crisis.
Iran has not immediately commented on Trump’s allegation.
The Pentagon and White House have also not issued further details on what form a U.S. response could take, or whether any action has already been approved.
If confirmed as an Iranian attack, the downing of a U.S. military aircraft would represent one of the most serious confrontations between Washington and Tehran in the Gulf in years.