Trump Accuses Iran of Downing US Helicopter and Threatens Response

President Donald Trump has accused Iran of shooting down a US Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to respond to the attack out of "necessity". Two crew members of the downed helicopter were rescued by an American sea drone, US Central Command (Centcom) said.

Sea drone rescues U.S. army helicopter crew near Strait of Hormuz, a story that follows the shoot‑down claims.

"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." The U.S. response remains unclear, but any military action could inflame an already fragile cease‑fire with Iran.

Iranian media appeared to acknowledge the incident, with the semi‑official Mehr News Agency reporting that Iran had not claimed responsibility. Tehran has not yet issued a formal reply to the U.S. president's comments.

One U.S. official told CBS News that it's not clear if the drone deliberately attacked the helicopter. The incident has reignited tensions after Israeli forces carried out strikes across southern Lebanon the previous day.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned foreign forces near Iranian territory risk being caught in crossfire and urged them to leave. Conversely, Iran’s top negotiator in peace talks with Washington, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, signalled readiness for retaliation 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." "You ride the horse you saddled!", Qalibaf wrote.

The DOWNED helicopter incident is a pivot moment in a broader conflict that has seen renewed strikes from both Israel and Iran, pushing the region closer to a full‑scale war.