U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that Iran was behind the downing of a U.S. military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz, marking a first since the cease-fire agreement between Washington and Tehran came into effect.
Trump announced on the 'Truth Social' platform that the helicopter carried two pilots who survived without injuries. He confirmed the success of the search and rescue operation and their safe relocation.
In the first formal reaction from the U.S. administration, President Trump emphasized that the U.S. would respond to what he described as an Iranian attack, without disclosing the nature or timing of the response, but assured the incident would not go unaddressed.
This announcement is significant as it represents the first direct U.S. acknowledgement linking the helicopter’s crash to an Iranian act, after hours of uncertainty surrounding the incident and various speculations about its causes.
According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, preliminary investigations suggest an Iranian drone collided with the helicopter, causing it to crash. However, investigators have not yet determined whether the collision was intentional or due to operational or other field-related circumstances.
Sources told CNN that the drone under investigation belongs to the Iranian 'Shahed' series, known for being among the most widely used in Iran's military arsenal.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that a U.S. AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, confirming the rescue of the pilots and their safe transfer after hours of searching.
These developments come amid ongoing tension in the Gulf region following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has increased its military presence by deploying Apache helicopters, drones, and advanced fighters as part of operations aimed at protecting international navigation and securing maritime transport routes.
The incident raises questions about the future of detente between Washington and Tehran, especially if investigations conclude that the helicopter's downing was deliberate, potentially opening the door to a new phase of escalation in one of the world's most sensitive areas for energy security and global trade.