President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Iran was responsible for shooting down a U.S. Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, declaring that America will respond to what he described as a direct act of aggression.

The president revealed the development in a post on Truth Social, saying he had been briefed by military officials about the incident involving one of the U.S. military’s advanced aircraft.

“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 on Truth Social.

Trump said the aircraft’s crew survived the incident without injury, but stressed that the attack would not go unanswered.

“There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added.

The reported shoot-down comes amid escalating tensions throughout the Middle East, where hostilities between Iran and Israel have intensified with continued exchanges of missile fire.

Despite the growing instability in the region, Trump has continued to express optimism that a broader diplomatic agreement remains within reach and has maintained that efforts toward a long-term peace arrangement are still progressing.

{Matzav.com}