Trump: Iran shot down U.S. Apache helicopter; crew rescued
A projectile streaks through the sky over central Israel during an Iranian missile attack, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
WASHINGTON, DC (CBS) – A U.S. Apache helicopter that crashed into the sea yesterday was shot down by Iran while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said today, vowing to “respond to this attack.”
“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured,” President Trump wrote. “Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”
Two U.S. officials tell CBS News initial reports indicate an Iranian drone apparently took down the Apache helicopter. One of the officials said it’s not clear if the drone deliberately attacked the helicopter.
The two crew members were rescued by a sea drone in the first such operation ever carried out by the U.S. military, officials told CBS News.
The surface drone rescued the soldiers and transported them to another location on the water where they were then hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport, according to a U.S. official.
The two U.S. Army soldiers on the Apache had been patrolling waters off the coast of Oman when the crash happened. They were rescued at about 6:30PM CDT last night, “within approximately two hours” of their AH-64 Apache going down.
They were both in stable condition, CENTCOM said in its statement on X, adding, “the cause of the incident is under investigation.”
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran seemed to be holding after a dramatic escalation Sunday into yesterday, with the two countries trading strikes.
— CBS News
