US Military Helicopter Downed Near Strait of Hormuz; Drone Boat Makes History with Rescue

A US Army Apache helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Tuesday, and both crew members were rescued by an unmanned surface vessel in what Central Command described as a first for American military forces.

The Task Force 59 drone boat located and recovered the two soldiers within roughly two hours. CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed both were receiving medical care and were in stable condition. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.

President Trump briefly acknowledged the episode, telling reporters the crew members were “fine,” before pivoting to the broader diplomatic picture. Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency took note of the incident but said no party had claimed responsibility. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued no statement.

The crash occurred amid renewed tensions after Iran and Israel exchanged direct fire for the first time since their April ceasefire, before both sides stepped back from escalation. Oil prices, which had spiked on the news, fell as markets stabilized.

Iran has maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli joint campaign began in February, choking off a shipping lane that normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Trump has made reopening the strait a centerpiece of his push for a deal with Tehran, telling reporters Tuesday that the strait would open “immediately upon signing, which could be in two or three days.”

Asked about remaining sticking points, Trump said he didn’t think any existed. “I think we’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” he said.