Trump says Iran shot down Apache helicopter, vows response

President Donald Trump has promised to respond after the crash of an Apache helicopter, which he said was shot down by the Iranians.

On Tuesday, Trump posted on social media that he had been informed by the U.S. military that the Apache had been shot down by Iran while the helicopter was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” Trump wrote. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

It is unclear how any U.S. military response would affect the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which Trump announced on April 7. Sporadic fighting between both countries has continued since then.

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The U.S. military had announced earlier on Tuesday that the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter had crashed at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday near the coast of Oman.

Both crew members were rescued within about two hours and are currently listed in stable condition, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM.

They were rescued by an unnamed boat in what may be the first such mission carried out by an uncrewed surface vessel, or USV.

Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, told reporters last month that Apaches and Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters had destroyed six Iranian small boats that had threatened commercial shipping.

Apaches also struck Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq during U.S. military operations against Iran, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters in March.

More than 40 U.S. aircraft have been lost or damaged since the war against Iran began in February, ranging from fixed-wing fighters and refueling tankers to drones, according to a mid-May Congressional Research Service report. That includes the loss of four F-15E Strike Eagle Fighters between March and April, and the shoot-down of an A-10 Thunderbolt II.

In terms of damages suffered, the list includes seven Stratotanker refueling aircraft, an F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, an E-3 Sentry surveillance aircraft, and a host of others, including 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones.

UPDATE: 06/09/2026: This story was updated after publication with a statement from President Donald Trump.