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It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, experienced mechanical failure or encountered some other problem.
File photo of a US Apache helicopter. (AFP)
A US Army Apache helicopter gunship went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, although its two crew members were safely rescued, The New York Times reported, citing two people briefed on the incident.
It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, experienced mechanical failure or encountered another problem, according to the report. The incident occurred on the same day as Israel and Iran exchanged military strikes in a dramatic escalation of tensions in West Asia before stepping back.
The White House, US Central Command and the US Department of State have not publicly commented on the incident. The US military has used Apaches, as well as armed MQ-9 Reaper drones and F/A-18 and F-35 attack planes, to challenge Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that supplies one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies.
US Loses First Apache
Iran has either destroyed or damaged at least 42 American military aircraft since the war broke out on February 28, including MQ-9 Reaper drones, F-15E fighter jets and MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft. However, this would be the first Apache lost in the conflict.
The AH-64 Apache gunship, which is armed with Hellfire missiles, is one of the most advanced aircraft operating in the region. They patrol the strategic waterway in part to deter small-boat attacks and to shoot down drones.
In May, US Central Command posted an image of its chief Admiral Brad Cooper flying over the strait before the start of a short-lived mission by the US Navy called Project Freedom to guide commercial ships through the narrow waterway. The helicopters have been pushing closer to Iranian territory to maintain an aggressive posture amid ongoing talks.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
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