U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Incident Near Strait of Hormuz

A U.S. Army Apache helicopter gunship went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The two crew members were safely rescued, according to sources familiar with the incident.

The cause of the Apache’s downing remains unclear. It is under investigation whether it was hit by Iranian fire, had mechanical failure, or faced another issue, said a person who requested anonymity.

The incident followed a period of fluctuating tension in the region. Israel and Iran recently exchanged military strikes, straining a fragile cease-fire.

The Trump administration had not announced the helicopter’s downing before inquiries from The New York Times. Neither the President’s spokesman nor the military’s Central Command offered immediate comments.

The U.S. military uses Apaches alongside MQ-9 Reaper drones and F/A-18 and F-35 jets. This effort challenges Iran’s effective closure of the Strait to commercial traffic. Iran has shot down around 30 Reaper drones, with some U.S. jets lost to hostile or friendly fire since the conflict began on February 28. This marks the first Apache loss.

Central Command shared images of Adm. Brad Cooper flying near the strait, coinciding with a U.S. Navy operation called Project Freedom to guide ships through the area. The AH-64 Apache, armed with Hellfire missiles, conducts patrols to deter small-boat attacks and shoot down drones.

These helicopters have been moving closer to Iranian territories, an aggressive stance taken by Central Command amid ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations to reopen the strait. In response to Iran’s blockade, the U.S. imposed its own, preventing commercial ships from accessing Iranian ports since April 13. U.S. military forces have redirected 134 vessels since.

The Navy disabled seven vessels that ignored American warnings. This includes a Palau-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman heading toward Iran as of Monday, according to Central Command.

In April, two crew members from an F-15E Strike Eagle were rescued after being downed by Iran and ejecting deep into hostile territory.