The United States has launched strikes against Iran after an American Apache helicopter was shot down while patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions despite hopes of an imminent peace agreement.
US Central Command confirmed American forces carried out “self defence strikes” against Iran, hours after US President Donald Trump vowed the attack would not go unanswered.
“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.
“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
The two pilots were rescued after spending about two hours in the water near Oman, in what was reportedly the first rescue of its kind using an unmanned US Navy drone vessel.
US Central Command said the AH-64 Apache went down “near the coast of Oman” on Monday night local time and initially stated the cause remained under investigation. While Trump blamed Iran for the incident, Centcom later reiterated that the cause had not yet been determined.
The escalation comes as Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon, killing eight people and injuring dozens. Israel said the strikes targeted Hezbollah operatives.
Before the helicopter incident, Trump had expressed optimism about negotiations to end the conflict with Iran, telling reporters the parties were in the “final throes” of a deal.
Iran and Israel “were going back and forth and now they both agreed through me to stop and we’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal,” he said, adding an agreement could be reached within “two or three days”.
In a BBC interview, Trump said he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to use a lot of common sense” during a recent phone conversation.
“All I did is say, ‘We have to use sense’. We’re very close to signing a very powerful deal, a very good deal,” he said.
“No nuclear weapons, no nothing. You know, we have to use a lot of common sense. It was fine.”
The latest developments follow a fresh exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel, with Iran launching nearly 30 missiles at Israel and Israel striking military sites in Iran.
Iranian state media reported three deaths, including two members of the Army Air Defence Force, while no casualties were reported in Israel.
Oil prices fell about 5 per cent on Wednesday amid renewed hopes of a peace deal, with Brent crude dropping below US$90 a barrel for the first time since April and West Texas Intermediate crude falling to around US$86 a barrel.
Source: The Advertiser.
