- A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter was downed over the Strait of Hormuz, prompting U.S. retaliatory airstrikes against Iranian military sites, which were met with Iranian strikes on U.S. bases.
- Two airmen from the crashed helicopter were rescued after two hours in the waters off Oman by a Navy surface drone boat, marking what is believed to be the first drone rescue at sea by the American military.
- The rescue was conducted by a Corsair unmanned surface vessel, part of the U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59, which deploys autonomous drones for reconnaissance and monitoring in the Middle East.
- Donald Trump confirmed the pilots were uninjured, as the incident highlights the escalating hostilities and the significant toll the conflict is taking on U.S. forces and resources.
- The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 500 U.S. troops being injured, 13 killed, and 42 aircraft damaged or destroyed, emphasizing the increasing reliance on advanced military technology like drones.
IN FULL
How a drone boat rescued Apache helicopter pilots stranded in darkness near Strait of Hormuz
