WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that two US helicopter crew members were “fine” after being rescued following the crash of an Apache gunship near the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz.
The US military’s Central Command (Centcom) said the AH-64 Apache went down around 3am local time on Tuesday (4am PKT) near the coast of Oman while conducting patrols in regional waters. The statement did not specify the cause of the crash.
According to Centcom, the two crew members were rescued within about two hours and were confirmed to be in stable condition. Officials also said the rescue operation was carried out with the help of a US Navy drone, though the model of the drone was not disclosed.
It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, suffered a mechanical failure, or experienced another technical or operational issue.
Speaking on the runway at John F. Kennedy International Airport before departing for Washington, DC, Trump said a detailed report on the incident would be released later in the day. He added, “The pilots are fine,” and confirmed that “nobody [was] injured.”
The incident occurred a day after Iran and Israel announced a halt in hostilities following an appeal from Trump. However, Tehran warned that it would resume attacks if Israel continued strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The fragile ceasefire comes as Washington continues efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran aimed at ending more than three months of conflict between the two sides.
Trump also told reporters he expected to have “an idea” for a potential Iran deal within days, though he did not provide details. He has repeatedly suggested progress toward an agreement, but no final deal has been reached so far.
Over the weekend, tensions escalated further as Iran and Israel engaged in their most direct confrontation since an April ceasefire. Iran fired missiles toward Israeli territory late Sunday, calling it retaliation for Israeli strikes near Beirut.
In response, Israel struck Iranian air defence systems and a petrochemical facility it said was linked to ballistic missile production. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it retaliated with a strike targeting a similar Israeli facility in Haifa. No casualties were reported on either side.
Separately, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call on Monday to “be careful,” warning that continued escalation could leave Israel isolated. In an interview with Axios, Trump quoted himself saying, “Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon.”
Israeli officials said the country was prepared to continue operations for “as long as it takes,” while Iranian officials maintained a similarly firm stance.
A military source quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency said Iran was ready for a prolonged conflict and could expand strikes against US interests in the region if necessary.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran was exchanging messages with Washington in an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion,” reflecting ongoing mistrust between the two sides.
Tehran has repeatedly stated that any peace agreement with the United States is linked to a halt in fighting in Lebanon, where Israel launched an offensive in March. Israel, however, insists its Lebanon campaign is separate from US-Iran negotiations and has continued its operations, with Hezbollah also carrying out attacks.
Iran has also maintained pressure on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route that once carried around a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. In response, Washington has imposed restrictions on Iranian ports.
Trump has insisted that any deal must prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, while Tehran denies seeking nuclear arms and says its programme is strictly peaceful. Iran’s demands in return include lifting international sanctions, releasing billions in frozen assets, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz.