US To Respond After Iran Downs Apache Helicopter, Trump Says...

President Donald Trump ordered the United States to resume attacks against Iran, saying the country shot down a U.S. Apache attack helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced the new attacks in a Truth Social post Tuesday, saying Iranians had downed the helicopter Monday night. Trump also noted that the pilots were unharmed and safe. It has now been over 100 days since the United States launched Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel on Feb. 28, 2026. “I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump said in the post. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” (RELATED: Congress Discreetly Moves To Merge US Military Even Closer To Israel’s) U.S. Central Command said the helicopter was downed near the coast of Oman but that they were rescued within two hours and that they were both in “stable condition.” Multiple outlets have reported that an Iranian attack drone had struck the helicopter, citing U.S. officials, although CENTCOM says the “cause of the incident is under investigation.” A source familiar said an Iranian Shahed-style one-way attack drone struck Apache, CNN reported. A U.S. official said it’s still not known if this was an accidental or an intentional attack by Iran. This move comes after weeks of Trump trying to smooth things over with the Iranians, claiming repeatedly that negotiations were productive and ongoing. At the same time, Trump has reportedly been trying to restrain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has continued major strikes in Southern Lebanon. Just last week, Trump ordered Netanyahu to refrain from launching more strikes in Beiruit, the capital of Lebanon. Trump said he called Netanyahu and Hezbollah leadership in a post June 1, claiming both were productive and that Netanyahu had turned troops back from the Lebanese capital. “Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” he wrote. (RELATED: Trump Tries To Restrain Israel, Hezbollah After Bibi Orders Strikes On Beirut) Netanyahu said in Hebrew that the Israel Defense Forces would continue to operate in southern Lebanon as planned. “Tonight, I spoke to President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens—Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut,” the prime minister posted to X, according to the translation. “This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in Southern Lebanon.” Trump also said the peace talks with Iran were “continuing, at a rapid pace” in another June 1 post. Axios reported June 1 that Trump lashed out at Netanyahu in a phone call. “You’re fucking crazy,” Trump said to Netanyahu, a U.S. official told the outlet. “You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.” A second source briefed regarding the exchange alleged the president was “pissed” and asked the Israeli prime minister, “What the fuck are you doing?!” Editor’s note: Article updated with additional information on the incident.