US President, Donald Trump has accused Iran of shooting down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter while it was patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions in the region.
In a post on social media on Tuesday (9th June), Trump said he had been informed by the U.S. military that Iranian forces were responsible for bringing down the aircraft overnight. He said the two pilots aboard were safely rescued and were uninjured, but warned that the United States “must, of necessity, respond” to the attack.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, despite recent efforts to maintain a ceasefire following months of conflict in the region. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the helicopter went down near the coast of Oman, while reports indicate the cause of the crash had initially been under investigation before Trump's accusation.
No details have yet been released on what form any U.S. response could take, but the development raises the prospect of renewed military escalation around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments.
