Because the U.S. begins retaliatory strikes, officers have advised reporters that an Iranian Shahed drone was believed to be liable for the downing of a U.S. Military AH-64 Apache throughout a patrol. The 2 crew members have been rescued from the water by a U.S. Navy drone boat.
Hours after we first realized that the U.S. Military had misplaced an AH-64 Apache over the Strait of Hormuz, extra element is now trickling out in regards to the incident.
President Donald Trump first introduced through social media platform Reality Social that Iran had ‘shot down’ the helicopter, vowing that the US would reply to the obvious assault. Unnamed officers since clarified that an Iranian Shahed drone is believed to be the offender for the assault, and that it isn’t but clear whether or not it was a intentionally focused motion or an unintentional collision.
The Apache was introduced down by an Iranian drone, per two US officers and one other supply aware of the matter. through @halbritz @ZcohenCNN @Kevinliptakcnn
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) June 9, 2026
The incident marks the primary time throughout Operation Epic Fury that an Apache has been misplaced, and likewise the primary time a U.S. Military Apache has been shot down because the Iraq Conflict.
As we beforehand reported, each crew members from the helicopter have been efficiently rescued and are, in keeping with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), in a secure situation. It has since been revealed that the preliminary rescue was carried out by an uncrewed floor vessel (USV), particularly a Saronic Applied sciences Corsair. The Corsair is 24 ft in size, with a variety of over 1,000 nautical miles and able to speeds in extra of 35 knots (64 km/h).
The Corsair is operated by Job Pressure 59 (TF59), a U.S. Navy unit headquartered in Bahrain fashioned to function and consider the evolving use of USVs and synthetic intelligence (AI) within the naval area. Most of TF59’s USVs are used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) duties, with some specialist roles together with mine detection and communications relays.
Extra right here: The drone used was a 24-foot Navy Corsair made by Saronic Applied sciences, mentioned Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman.
The crew have been picked up by the vessel, taken to a second location on the water, after which hoisted up right into a helicopter.
The Corsair was…
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) June 9, 2026
Utilizing USVs in a search and rescue (SAR) function is just not a brand new idea, although that is the primary recorded time that one has been utilized by the U.S. Navy to instantly retrieve people from the water. After selecting the 2 crew members up, the uncrewed vessel rendezvoused with a helicopter which then transported them to land for medical evaluation.
U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, talking for CENTCOM, mentioned that TF59 started utilizing the Corsair USV in March of this 12 months.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces started launching self-defense strikes in opposition to Iran at 5 p.m. ET right now on the Commander in Chief’s route, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Military Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026
CENTCOM confirmed at 21:18 UTC that the U.S. had begun airstrikes in opposition to Iran in response to the Apache being downed, as promised earlier by President Trump.
BREAKING: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirms its forces launched “self-defense strikes in opposition to Iran,” in response to Tuesday’s downing of a U.S. Military Apache helicopter.
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) June 9, 2026
Patrolling the Strait
U.S. Military Apaches collaborating in Operation Epic Fury have been tasked with countering Iranian-backed militia actions within the wider Center East in addition to with preserving an armed overwatch on the strategically essential Strait of Hormuz. These operations have run in live performance with present Operation Shader necessities, concentrating on the small remaining pockets of Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria.
Iran declared on Mar. 4, 2026 – simply days after Operation Epic Fury started – that the Strait of Hormuz was closed. As a world waterway Iran has no authorized authority to shut the strait, however the nation’s large fleet of quick assault craft, small boats, and big arsenal of sea mines imply that any risk from Iran concerning passage by way of the chokepoint is taken very severely. Civilian transits of the strait with cargo vessels and, crucially, oil and gasoline tankers have been severely disrupted all through the disaster.
Dozens of ships have been secretly guided by way of the Strait of Hormuz, typically crusing beneath the duvet of darkness to keep away from detection by Iranian radar and patrol boats.
That is how the US helps the tankers navigate the waterway ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/40pzQvFnJc
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 6, 2026
Ships which are keen to danger the transit have largely relied on an organised effort by U.S. forces to supply overwatch and escort by way of the realm. It’s seemingly that the downed Apache was a part of this operation, with its potent ISR functionality and combined weapon load splendid for detecting and responding to quite a lot of waterborne and airborne threats.
Contained in the mine-hunting mothership⚓
RFA Lyme Bay is headed for the Arabian Sea
She is loaded with uncrewed boats, underwater sensors, autonomous sonar tools and carrying over 100 professional mine-hunting personnel pic.twitter.com/UN91zfnmHD
— BFBS Forces Information (@ForcesNews) Might 28, 2026
Various international locations have declared their intent to assist make sure the Strait of Hormuz is evident of any mines, although any giant scale mine clearance operations – normally carried out by ships with comparatively restricted self defence capabilities – could be dangerous ought to hostilities with Iran proceed. The ceasefire that entered pressure between the U.S. and Iran on Apr. 8 theoretically stays in place, although each side have repeatedly exchanged fireplace.
