President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the US “will respond” as he accused Iran of shooting down an Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.
The two pilots involved in the attack are “safe and secure,” Trump wrote in a letter. satya social post. “Nevertheless, the United States must respond to this attack, as necessary.”
Trump did not say what form the US response would take. But his post indicated that conflict with Iran is about to escalate once again, despite him claim hours early That an agreement with Tehran could be reached soon this week.
Trump said after leaving the NBA Finals game in New York City late Monday night that the two sides are in the final stages of a “very, very good deal” that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately after signing.”
Trump said such an agreement could be signed “in two or three days.” But he has repeatedly claimed throughout the war, which crossed the 100-day mark on Sunday, that the US and Iran were on the verge of signing a deal. No deal has emerged.
US Central Command revealed earlier Tuesday that the American AH-64 Apache had gone down “off the coast of Oman” on Monday evening ET.
CENTCOM initially did not blame Iran for the incident, saying in a statement that the incident was under investigation.
The two soldiers involved in the crash were rescued by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division within about two hours, Centcom’s post said.
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