Trump vows US response after Iran downs helicopter
Washington, June 9 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that the US will respond to Iran’s actions of shooting down a US helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.
The aircraft crashed, and the two crew members were rescued.
Trump made the episode known with a post on Truth: “I have just been informed by our Armed Forces that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while it was patrolling the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots on board, both safe and sound. The United States must necessarily respond to this attack,” he wrote, Italian news agency Adnkronos reported.
The balance is extremely precarious, as confirmed by Israeli army commander Eyal Zamir during a visit to a military exercise in the north of the country. He said the recent wave of attacks against Iran was “just a preparation for a much more significant and powerful blow. The IDF are prepared to act again and inflict another harsh and far-reaching blow against Iran,” adding that the Israeli armed forces “continue to maintain the highest level of readiness and preparation to resume operations in Iran.”
Similar messages came from Tehran. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X: “We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we know others that we master much better. If you don’t honour your commitments, we will move on to what we do best. What goes around comes around!”
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is “deeply concerned about the new escalation in the Middle East” and called for “all attacks to cease immediately,” emphasising that “ceasefires in Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza must be fully respected.” He added that “any action that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts must be avoided.”
The UN chief expressed concern over Israel’s decision to close border crossings with Gaza and reiterated his call for the immediate reopening of all crossings to ensure the rapid, safe, and unimpeded passage of large-scale humanitarian aid.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Guterres stated that “the exercise of navigation rights and freedoms, in accordance with international law, must be respected. Everyone must fulfil their obligations under international law and take all possible precautions to protect civilians.”
He concluded: “There is no military solution to conflicts in the Middle East. The only way forward is dialogue and negotiations. I urge all interested parties to work for diplomatic solutions that promote regional and international peace and security.”
–IANS
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