An Iranian Shahed drone downed a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter near the coast of Oman, prompting immediate American airstrikes on Iranian radar and military sites.
US Central Command completed the self-defense strikes on June 9, 2026, targeting installations in the Strait of Hormuz area. The Apache was engaged on June 8-9 while on patrol, according to reports from CNN and The New York Times. Two crew members survived the incident and were recovered unharmed at approximately 3:30 a.m. local time.
The rescue marked the first known operational use of an unmanned drone boat by US forces. The vessel reached the crew in open water and extracted them without additional manned assets entering the engagement zone. Associated Press confirmed the details of the extraction and subsequent Iranian response.
President Donald Trump addressed the incident directly. "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," he stated. "There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack."
Strikes began at 5 p.m. EDT on June 9. Trump later confirmed the ongoing operation, noting, "They shot down a helicopter, and we are responding as we speak." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported launching missiles and drones in reply to the American action.
The sequence highlights ongoing drone threats in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor. Security units monitoring regional airspace and surface activity now have additional data on Shahed drone employment and the tactical value of unmanned surface vessels for personnel recovery in contested waters.
