The U.S. will 'respond' to Iran downing Army chopper; ceasefire in question

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(The Center Square) – The U.S.  will “respond” after President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. Army helicopter downed over the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by Iran Monday night.

“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,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Trump didn’t indicate how the U.S. will respond or if it will be similar to responses in recent weeks, which the military claims were defensive in nature. It is unclear if the latest targeting by Iran on American forces is enough to pull the plug on the fragile ceasefire.

U.S. Central Command confirmed the Army AH-64 Apache “went down near the coast of Oman” while patrolling regional waters. Both crew members were rescued “within approximately two hours.”

The region around the Strait of Hormuz has seen its fair share of exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran in recent weeks, with the Islamic Republic essentially holding the vital waterway hostage since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

Trump has maintained a commitment to seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, saying the U.S. could determine within a couple of days whether a deal can be struck.

Despite the U.S. and Iran exchanging fire multiple times, and the missile exchanges over the weekend between Israel and Iran, the president claims the ceasefire, which went into effect April 8, is still in effect.

Trump quashed concerns that the recent dust-up between Israel and Iran was putting the fragile ceasefire in further jeopardy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "was hit hard by Iran, and he hit back. I can’t blame him for that. Now they’ve called it quits, so they’re going to leave each other alone for another week or something,” the president told reporters Monday evening. “They both agreed, through me to stop.”

Trump claimed once again, as he has for weeks, that a deal is on the horizon, reiterating his demand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

“We’re in the final throes of a very good deal that will not allow, in any way or form nuclear weapons.” The president added.