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U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Iran shot down an American Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that the United States must launch a response to the attack.
Trump confirmed that both American pilots survived the incident without injury, though the escalation severely threatens the fragile peace process between the two nations.
The U.S. military’s Central Command stated that a Navy surface drone rescued the crew members in stable condition after the helicopter crashed near Oman’s coast during a routine patrol.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi did not explicitly acknowledge the shootdown but warned that foreign forces in the region risk crossfire, advising them to leave to reduce further complications.
The incident severely strains ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the broader Middle East war and reopen the vital shipping strait.
Although Trump has repeatedly claimed that both sides are close to a peace agreement, regional tensions have escalated since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April.
In a parallel conflict, an Israeli airstrike killed at least eight people in the Lebanese port city of Tyre on Tuesday, marking the deadliest attack there since fighting erupted with Hezbollah in early March.
Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hezbollah continues to hinder Trump’s efforts to secure a durable settlement with Iran.
Tehran demands an end to the fighting in Lebanon and the lifting of international sanctions before finalising any peace deal with Washington, while it continues to block most energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
