U.S. CENTCOM launched some fascinating photographs of the AH-64 gunships patrolling the Strait simply as Iran moved to limit visitors by way of the slender waterway as soon as once more.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) gunboats reportedly fired on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, in line with an advisory launched by the UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO), on Saturday Apr. 18, 2026.
The warning mentioned the group had obtained a direct notification from the ship’s grasp, who reported being approached by two IRGC gunboats some 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. No radio warning was mentioned to have been issued earlier than the tanker, whose identification was not disclosed, got here underneath fireplace.
UKMTO WARNING 037-26 – ATTACK Report Date:18 Apr 2026 Report Time: 0920UTC Concern Date:18 Apr 2026 Supply: Grasp UKMTO has obtained a report of an incident 20NM northeast of OMAN. The Grasp of a Tanker studies being approached by 2 IRGC gun boats, no VHF problem that then fired upon the tanker. Tanker and crew are reported secure. Authorities are investigating.
Throughout in the present day’s assault agaisnt an Indian tanker by Iran within the Strait of Hormuz, it appears although the vessel was initially heading outbound, however was refused by the IRGC. The vessel is then seen heading inbound in direction of the Gulf once more, however then turns off AIS and makes a run for it… pic.twitter.com/EK5pQaJvwm
— Martin Kelly (@_MartinKelly_) April 18, 2026
The episode comes as Tehran has reimposed tight restrictions on delivery by way of the Strait, after U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday Apr. 17, 2026 that the U.S. blockade on vessels utilizing Iranian ports would proceed. In response to CENTCOM, 23 ships have been pressured to show again because the blockade was enforced.
Littoral fight ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) patrols the Arabian Sea in the course of the U.S. blockade. Since graduation of the blockade, 23 ships have complied with path from U.S. forces to show round. American forces are imposing a maritime blockade in opposition to ships coming into or… pic.twitter.com/PMIBOoeJXS
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 18, 2026
In a put up on Saturday, the official X account of the IRGC Navy Command mentioned that “Each breach of promise by America will likely be met with a becoming response. So long as the passage of vessels from Iranian origin to Iranian vacation spot stays underneath risk, the standing of the Strait of Hormuz will stay in its earlier state. By the desire of Allah.”
هر نقض عهدی از سوی امریکا، پاسخی شایسته دارد.تا زمانی که تردد شناورها از مبدأ ایران و به مقصد ایران مورد تهدید باشد، وضعیت تنگه هرمز به حالت قبلی باقی میماند. باذن الله
— فرماندهی نیروی دریایی سپاه (@niroo_daryayi) April 18, 2026
The assertion capped a confused 24 hours by which Tehran first mentioned the Strait of Hormuz had reopened after which moved to reimpose restrictions that successfully closed it once more.
Because the information of assaults on vessels within the Strait began to flow into (two Indian vessels have been fired upon by IRGC Navy watercraft within the Strait and compelled to show again), U.S. Central Command launched some fascinating photographs of U.S. Military AH-64 Apache helicopters patrolling the waterway.
AH-64 Apaches fly above the Strait of Hormuz throughout a patrol, April 17. U.S. Military Troopers are flying in and across the strait offering a visual presence in assist of freedom of navigation. pic.twitter.com/6K6cuCoqq2
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 18, 2026
On Mar. 19, 2026, throughout a Pentagon press briefing, Basic Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, introduced that U.S. Air Power A-10 Thunderbolt II jets supporting Operation Epic Fury had begun working on the southern flank, concentrating on quick assault craft within the Strait of Hormuz. He additionally mentioned that AH-64 Apache gunships have been searching one-way assault drones in the identical space.
Alongside quick jets, the AH-64 could be very nicely suited to such maritime patrol missions because it a platform combining persistence, exact sensors and a versatile weapons combine that enable the gunship helicopter to counter quick watercraft in addition to OWA drones that may be launched in opposition to oil tankers and ships in a crowded littoral surroundings. As current U.S. Military counter-UAS demonstrations have proven, the AH-64E can detect, observe and defeat drones with a number of weapons, together with the 30 mm M230 chain gun, APKWS-guided 70 mm rockets, HELLFIRE variants and even JAGM, providing crews scalable choices relying on vary, goal dimension and collateral-risk concerns.
The helicopter can be nicely outfitted on the sensor aspect, pairing electro-optical and infrared sights with the mast-mounted AN/APG-78 Longbow radar, which is designed to quickly detect, classify and prioritize massive numbers of contacts. Within the Strait of Hormuz, the place threats might embody small one-way assault drones, quick assault craft and different fleeting, hard-to-sort targets, that mixture makes the Apache a reputable hunter-killer platform: it may construct situational consciousness, share knowledge throughout networks, and interact all the things from low, sluggish aerial threats to small hostile boats with direct fireplace, guided rockets or heavier missiles, relying on the tactical image.
