Iranian Drone Strikes US Army Helicopter Near Strait of Hormuz; Intentionality Unclear
A US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter was struck by an Iranian Shahed drone and went down near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8, resulting in the loss of a $25 million aircraft. US military investigators are still determining whether the drone strike was deliberately targeted or an accidental hit, as Shahed drones have historically been used against stationary targets. The incident highlights the escalating military tensions in the region following the February 28, 2026 joint US-Israel attack on Iran.
According to reporting from Axios and confirmed by the New York Times, an unnamed US government official stated that an Iranian Shahed drone struck a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter before it went down near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8. US military investigators are still evaluating whether the Iranian drone strike was intentional or accidental, indicating uncertainty about the attack's nature. Iran has deployed thousands of Shahed drones against military and civilian targets in the Gulf region since February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran with bombs and missiles. Historically, these one-way attack drones have primarily struck stationary targets such as data centers and energy facilities, though they have occasionally hit slow-moving commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident underscores the ongoing military escalation in the region.
What's missing
The article does not specify the number of casualties or injuries from the helicopter incident, nor does it provide details about the helicopter's mission or operational context at the time of the strike.
What different sources said
- Ars TechnicaCenter
Cheap Iranian drone downed $25 million US Army helicopter—maybe by chance
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