President Donald Trump has claimed that a US military Apache helicopter was shot down by Iran, warning that the United States “must respond” to the attack. The incident marks the second confirmed loss of a crewed US aircraft attributed to Iranian fire during the ongoing Middle East conflict, following the downing of an F-15 fighter jet in April.
According to Trump, he was informed that “last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.” He added that although the crew remained unharmed, the United States would “of necessity respond” to the incident.
The Apache helicopter, which carries a two-member crew and is equipped with a 30mm chain gun along with Hellfire missiles, is one of the US military’s key attack aircraft used in combat operations.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American forces in the Middle East, confirmed that two Apache crew members were rescued after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman. CENTCOM stated that the soldiers were safely recovered within approximately two hours and are currently in stable condition. The command also noted that a naval surface drone assisted in the rescue operation.
The incident has further heightened tensions in the region, especially as a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8 amid ongoing efforts by the United States and Iran to negotiate an end to hostilities. The latest development raises fresh concerns about potential escalation in an already volatile situation.
Recent Random Post:
