An Apache helicopter belonging to the U.S. military crashed while it was flying over the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump expressed optimism about a potential peace agreement with Iran, suggesting that the U.S. could achieve “total victory” in a matter of weeks.
The pilots of the helicopter were rescued on Monday, and Trump assured reporters at JFK Airport that they were “fine.”
There’s still uncertainty about the cause of the crash; it’s not clear if the Apache was shot down or if there was a mechanical failure, according to reports.
While speaking to reporters, Trump remarked that the chance of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran seemed close, which is noteworthy considering the recent tensions following attacks on Tehran.
“We could bomb them if we wanted to; we could do serious damage in two or three weeks,” Trump commented while watching the New York Knicks play against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
However, he added, “But that could lead to many casualties. Who would want that? Not me.”
Earlier in a conference call, he reiterated that the U.S. could declare “total victory” soon.
“In the next two weeks, you’re really going to see that. It’s going to happen quickly,” he insisted.
Trump’s confident statements followed a significant escalation in conflict between Iran and Israel, marking heightened tensions since the ceasefire in April.
Recently, Iran fired a missile into Israeli territory, reacting to an attack that targeted Hezbollah near Beirut. In response, Israel launched strikes against Iranian air defense installations and a petrochemical facility accused of producing ballistic missiles.
The Iranian military retaliated with an attack aimed at an Israeli factory located in Haifa.
In light of the situation, Trump called for a ceasefire and urged both sides to “stop fighting.”
Following this, Iran’s Joint Forces Command stated they would pause offensive actions against Israel but warned Prime Minister Netanyahu of severe repercussions for any future “aggressions and hostilities,” particularly regarding Hezbollah.
This seemingly calls for a cautious approach moving forward.
