Trump: US Apache Helicopter Shot Down by Iran, US Must Respond

(Central News Agency, Washington, 9th, Combined Foreign Reports) After foreign media reported that a US Army Apache helicopter had crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, the military stated that the two crew members on board had been rescued. US President Donald Trump said today that the helicopter was shot down by Iran, emphasizing that the United States "must" respond.

According to AFP, Trump issued a statement saying he was notified that "last night, Iranians shot down one of our highly advanced Apache helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz."

This Apache helicopter is the second manned aircraft confirmed by Washington to have been shot down by Iran during the Middle East war, following an F-15 fighter jet shot down in April.

The two crew members on board are safe, but Trump said: "Regardless, the United States must respond to this attack. It is a necessary move." He did not provide further details.

The New York Times first reported that the Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, and the two crew members were safely rescued.

Separately, according to Reuters, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed while conducting a maritime patrol mission off the coast of Oman at around 3:00 AM local time on the 8th.

CNN reported that CENTCOM spokesperson Timothy Hawkins stated that a US Navy unmanned surface vessel "located and rescued the crew members in the water."

CENTCOM told Reuters that the rescue was carried out by an unmanned vessel but did not specify the model of the vessel.