US Apache helicopter pilots who went down in Strait of Hormuz are fine, Trump says; Iran has not yet claimed responsibility | Today’s news
Hours after a US military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (local time) that the two pilots on board were “fine” following the incident.
Trump made the remarks before boarding Air Force One. In an interview with reporters, he said, “The pilots are fine,” and that no one was injured in the incident, NBC News reported. He added: “We will issue a report tomorrow.”
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The US president’s comments came hours after Iran and Israel exchanged missiles despite an April ceasefire, sparking fears of a return to all-out war in the Middle East.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains unknown
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The exact cause of the Apache helicopter crash remains unclear, with possibilities including Iranian fire, mechanical failure or other unknown issues.
President Trump said the two pilots aboard the Apache helicopter were “fine” and mentioned that a report would be issued the following day.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global oil supplies, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passed before the conflict escalated.
Trump has promised to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a deal to end the war, suggesting it will open immediately after the deal is signed.
The conflict has disrupted energy markets and contributed to a global rise in fuel prices, largely due to Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to The New York Times, it was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, suffered a mechanical failure or encountered some other problem.
Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency acknowledged the incident on Tuesday, but added that Tehran had not claimed responsibility and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had not yet issued a statement.
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Trump promises to resume traffic through Hormuz
Speaking to reporters, Trump promised to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of an agreement to end the war. Hormuz is a key waterway through which a fifth of the world’s oil reserves passed in pre-war times.
Commenting on the potential deal with Iran, he said: “We are in the final test of what will be a very, very good deal that will not in any way allow the shaping or creation of nuclear weapons.”
He added: “The strait will open immediately. It will open immediately after the signing, which could be in two or three days.” He also said the deal could be done “within an hour if you want to know the truth”.
No obstacles to US-Iran deal: Trump
Asked what the biggest problem was in the negotiations, the US president said he “doesn’t think there are any problems”. He added: “I think we are very close to doing a very, very good, strong, strong deal.”
Trump has repeatedly said the two sides are close to a final deal since he first announced a ceasefire in April; however, no agreement has yet been reached.
Trump asks Netanyahu to be careful
Reuters reported that US and Israeli officials said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said he warned the Israeli leader not to go back to war with Iran: “I said, ‘Bibi, be careful or you’ll be on your own very soon.’
Tehran has long said any peace deal with Washington depends in part on an end to fighting in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters firing across the border.
Iran and Israel exchange missiles
The incident comes after days of an escalation and subsequent easing of hostilities in the region as Israel and Iran exchanged military strikes before calling them off, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire.
On June 7, the Islamic Republic launched attacks on Israel, citing attacks on Lebanon as the primary reason. On Monday, Tel Aviv retaliated by firing missiles, prompting the US president to ask both sides to “cease fire” immediately.
Read also | Iran and Israel suspend strikes after new firefight
Although Tehran and Tel Aviv agreed to a “ceasefire,” according to Trump’s Truth Social post, Israel continued military operations in Lebanon on Tuesday and issued evacuation orders for the southern city of Tyre.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the evacuation orders would include the city’s Christian quarter, which was previously excluded, citing what it described as the presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in the area.
