In a dangerous military development near one of the most sensitive sea lanes in the world, two American officials said that a US Army Apache helicopter was destroyed over the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the Sultanate of Oman, after it was shot down by an Iranian drone.
A source familiar with the incident reported that the drone used to shoot down the helicopter was a Shahed model, indicating a new escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The US Army had previously announced the rescue of the helicopter crew, consisting of two people, by a piloted boat, confirming that the two pilots were transported safely after the accident.
For his part, US President Donald Trump said, through his “Truth Social” platform, that the US military informed him that Iran shot down an army Apache helicopter while it was on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the United States will respond to this attack.
This is the first loss of an American helicopter since the start of the conflict with Iran, which raises the level of concern about the possibility of the confrontation moving to a more dangerous level in the Gulf.
The incident gains additional importance due to the nature of the weapon used, as Iranian “Shahed” drones are known for their ability to fly at a low altitude and at a slow speed, which makes monitoring and intercepting them more difficult compared to ballistic missiles.
The helicopter crash comes at a time when the region is witnessing escalating tension against the backdrop of the confrontation between Iran and Israel, and the faltering diplomatic track between Washington and Tehran, amid fears that any American response would lead to expanding the circle of conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf.
