Trump Warns Iran of Retaliation: "U.S. Army Apache Shot Down"

No Specific Response Detailed

U.S. Central Command Confirms Helicopter Crash

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran shot down a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz and warned of retaliation. Military tensions are rising again as the United States and Iran continue last-minute coordination for an end-of-war agreement.

On June 9 (local time), President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, "Iran has shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter." He added, "Both pilots are safe and uninjured, but the United States must respond to this attack." However, President Trump did not specify what form the response would take.

U.S. President Donald Trump Social Media

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed in a statement that an AH-64 Apache helicopter had crashed near the coast of Oman the previous afternoon. Central Command stated that the cause of the incident is "currently under investigation" and did not officially confirm whether it was due to an Iranian attack. The two U.S. soldiers on board at the time of the crash were rescued by the U.S. Navy Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division after about two hours, and both are reported to be safe.

Iran has also not officially acknowledged the shootdown. However, following President Trump's post, Iran's state-run Press TV responded via Telegram, asking, "What happened to the claim that the Iranian military has been completely destroyed?"

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, also warned through social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we are much more skilled in other languages," adding, "If promises are broken, we will respond in the way we do best."

President Trump's hardline remarks came just hours after he had emphasized the possibility of reaching an end-of-war agreement. The previous night, after attending the NBA Finals in New York, President Trump told reporters that the United States and Iran were in the final stages of a "very good agreement" and that it could be signed within two to three days at the earliest. He explained that the agreement would include provisions to prevent Iran from possessing nuclear weapons and to immediately and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Israel continued airstrikes on areas including the southern Lebanese city of Tyre on this day. According to Lebanon's health ministry, at least eight people were killed and dozens injured in the Tyre airstrike.

Iran has warned that it may launch further retaliation if attacks on southern Lebanon continue, making the Lebanon issue a key point of contention in the end-of-war negotiations. Iran insists that security guarantees for Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire agreement, while Israel maintains its stance of continuing military operations targeting the pro-Iranian armed group Hezbollah.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.