Trump promises retaliation after Apache helicopter ‘shot down’ over Hormuz

US President Donald Trump claims Iran shot down an Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz — and has vowed to respond out of ‘necessity’. Meanwhile, Tony Abbott has said he’d back the idea of a preference deal with One Nation to get Labor out.

Jun 10, 2026

10 min read

President Donald Trump at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, June 9 (Image: AP/Mark Schiefelbein)

US PRESIDENT: IRAN TARGETED HELICOPTER, AMERICA ‘MUST RESPOND’

US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of shooting down an American helicopter and vowed to respond.

Posting on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump declared: “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.

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