Published on September 6, 2026, at 20:00 GMT+2; updated at 20:02.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged retaliation after accusing Iran of downing a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
In a social media post, Trump said that military commanders informed him that “Iranians shot down one of our highly capable Apache helicopters.” He added that the two crew members survived without injury.
“They are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote.
“Nevertheless, the United States must respond to this attack,” he added.
The incident marked the first publicly acknowledged use of an unmanned vessel by the U.S. military to recover personnel. The unmanned vessel rescued two aviators after their Apache attack helicopter crashed near the strategic waterway, which Iran has largely closed to shipping amid its conflict with the United States and Israel.
The loss of the helicopter heightened tensions in a two‑month ceasefire that has recently come under renewed strain following Iran‑Israel exchanges of fire on Monday, the first since the truce was agreed.
Iranian state media reported that Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday killed at least two members of Iran’s air‑defence forces.
The conflict began on February 28 after U.S. and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran, leading to far‑reaching economic consequences.
The fighting has unsettled global markets, driven up energy prices, and contributed to rising costs for everyday goods.
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