The downing of the Apache

A US AH-64 Apache helicopter on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz was downed on Monday evening. Both pilots survived and were rescued roughly two hours later by a US Navy maritime drone, which pulled them from the water and transported them to the coast of Oman. The incident marks the first Apache lost in the war the US and Israel have been waging against Iran since late February. Until now, the US military had lost approximately 30 drones and several fighter jets.

Initial reports, cited by the New York Times, left the cause unclear — whether the helicopter was shot down, suffered a mechanical failure, or crashed for another reason. A military investigation, reported by Axios citing a senior US official, determined that an Iranian drone struck the AH-64 Apache over the Strait of Hormuz, causing the crash, though the official said the investigation had not yet established whether it was a deliberate act by Iran.

Trump pins blame on Iran

On 9 June, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had received word from the military that Iranian forces shot down 'one of our highly advanced Apache helicopters' during a patrol over the Strait of Hormuz. He stated that both pilots were safe and unharmed, but added that the United States 'must, of necessity, respond to this attack.'

“I have just received word from our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly advanced Apache helicopters while on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz. Two pilots were involved in the incident, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Trump's statement was the first official US reaction formally attributing responsibility to Iran for the helicopter's destruction. He did not specify how the US military would respond.

The US military response

CENTCOM announced that its forces began conducting self-defence strikes against Iran at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 9 June, acting on the orders of the commander-in-chief. The command described the mission as a 'proportional reaction to unjustified aggression on the part of Iran.'

“CENTCOM forces began conducting self-defence strikes against Iran today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. These actions are a response to the downing yesterday of an American AH-64 Apache helicopter. The mission constitutes a proportional reaction to unjustified aggression on the part of Iran.”

Iran's response

Shortly after Trump's statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi posted on X that foreign troops near Iranian territory 'are exposed to constant risk, related to their own human errors, ordinary accidents, or potentially could be caught in crossfire.' He recommended that 'the best solution for them to reduce the risk is to leave,' adding: 'We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we also speak other languages.'

“Foreign troops located near Iranian territory are exposed to constant risk, related to their own human errors, ordinary accidents, or potentially could be caught in crossfire. The best solution for them to reduce the risk is to leave. We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we also speak other languages.”

Earlier, Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf had posted a message that may have referenced the downing of the aircraft, though the exact content was not detailed in the sources.

Oil markets and the diplomatic backdrop

Despite the heightened tensions, Brent crude futures fell nearly 3% on Tuesday evening to $91.50 per barrel, having earlier dropped over 4.5% to around $90 — the lowest level since 17 April. The decline followed an agreement by Israel and Iran to halt attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would respond to any further attacks from Tehran, a position echoed by Iranian media. Weakening demand from China, where oil imports fell in May to roughly 7.8 million barrels per day — the lowest in over eight years and nearly 4 million barrels per day below the 2025 average — combined with record US exports and the release of emergency reserves, helped cap the conflict's impact on prices.

Just hours before the downing was confirmed as an Iranian act, Trump had said he was very close to an agreement with Iran, estimating it could happen within two or three days. The helicopter incident now casts doubt over that prospective deal, which was expected to regulate mutual relations and, above all, the rules for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Broader conflict context

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has entered another phase of escalation following a series of mutual attacks in the Persian Gulf region and the Middle East. Israel continues operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure and allied groups in Syria and Lebanon, arguing the goal is to limit Tehran's ability to support organisations such as Hezbollah. The US has increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf and is conducting intensive naval and air patrols around the Strait of Hormuz. Fighting has eased somewhat after international calls for de-escalation, but the situation remains highly tense. The United Nations has warned that a return to open war could destabilise the entire Middle East.