ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two US crew members were rescued after their helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday, adding that an investigation into the incident has been launched. This comes as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high in regional waters amid tit-for-tat maritime measures between the two sides.
“At 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter were rescued by American forces after their aircraft went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters,” CENTCOM said, adding that the soldiers “are in stable condition.”
“The cause of the incident is under investigation,” the Command concluded.
The incident comes as diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure a comprehensive resolution to the Iran war.
The US and Israel in late February launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran, striking thousands of targets across the country over six weeks of hostilities, before the warring sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8, halting fighting to allow space for talks.
While the first round of talks concluded without a final agreement on April 11, a second round has yet to take place.
Alongside the diplomatic efforts, Tehran and Washington engaged in reciprocal maritime measures. Iran tightened its control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while the US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports beginning April 13.
US President Donald Trump on Monday stated that “final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding,” adding that “the Blockade [on Iranian ports] will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump added, “Things should move quickly.”
CENTCOM announced on Monday that its forces “have disabled seven non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass” since Washington initiated its naval blockade of Iranian ports in mid-April.
Of note, the US in early April said it rescued two American pilots from “enemy territory” in Iran in two separate missions, Trump then stated, following a two-day combat search-and-rescue mission after their aircraft were reportedly “shot down” by the Iranian military.
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