US Army Apache crash near Strait of Hormuz; drone boat rescues two aviators

A drone boat pulled two US Army aviators from the sea after an AH-64 Apache crashed near the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday. A US military official said the crew spent about two hours in the water. The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route. Iran has effectively closed it during the war.

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Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, said a 24-foot unmanned boat found the two aviators. The vessel then took them to shore. US military officials have not said why the helicopter went down. A military news release said the crash remains under investigation.

Strait of Hormuz crash and US Central Command response

US President Donald Trump spoke about the incident while talking to journalists at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Trump had watched the NBA Finals on Monday night. "The pilots are fine. Yeah,\" Trump said. \"Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.\"

Central Command said the helicopter crashed around 3:30 am local time Tuesday. The crash happened off the coast of Oman during a patrol. The New York Times first reported the crash. US forces have used Apache helicopters during the blockade on Iranian crude shipments and tankers.

Strait of Hormuz war impact and US-Iran deal talks

The crash came as the region reacted to Iran and Israel trading fire the day before. Iranian state television said Tuesday that Israeli attacks killed at least two members of Iran’s air defence units. Since the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, energy prices have risen. Food and other basics have also become costlier.

Officials have struggled to convert the April ceasefire into a lasting settlement. The conflict has also linked to fighting in Lebanon. Israel has widened its military campaign there against Hezbollah. Hezbollah is backed by Iran. The ongoing violence has put more strain on the ceasefire in the Iran war.

Trump also said talks with Iran could soon produce an agreement. \"We have a good chance of signing a deal in two or three days,\" Trump said. Trump gave no fresh details for the optimism. Trump has often said a deal is close since the initial ceasefire was reached.

\"Were very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,\" the president said. \"If we go and bomb - which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing - theyll have nothing left whatsoever. But you wont have the strait open for months.\"

Trump also warned about human costs from more strikes. \"If we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I dont.\" Mediators, led predominantly by Pakistan, have tried for weeks to finalise a deal. Still, Washington and Tehran have held firm positions.

The US wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The material is believed to be entombed after US airstrikes during the 12-day war in 2025. Iran has refused and wants sanctions relief. Iran also wants frozen assets released before a final deal, which Trump rejected.

Before Trump’s latest remarks, Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf spoke on Monday. Qalibaf said Trump’s statements contradicted agreed sections. Qalibaf said this showed the US was not seeking a ceasefire or dialogue. The Israel-Hezbollah fighting has remained a major Iranian concern.

Strait of Hormuz tensions and Israel warning for Tyre

Lebanon’s army chief, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, travelled to Pakistan on Tuesday. Haykal met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Munir has been a key figure in the Iran-US talks. The visit came as Lebanon’s government took a harder line on Hezbollah but still could not disarm it.

Hezbollah thanked Iran on Tuesday for attacking Israel in defence of our Lebanese people. Hezbollah also suggested Lebanon should use the moment to improve ties with Tehran. Separately, Israel issued an evacuation warning for Tyre in southern Lebanon. The warning included the Christian quarter, which had avoided strikes so far.

Last week, Israel warned Christian neighbourhoods in Tyre. Israel said it believed Hezbollah members were among them. Many Lebanese Shiite Muslims had fled there as strikes hit the coastal area over two weeks. After that warning, Lebanon’s army deployed to the Christian district to deter attacks.

Avichay Adraee, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, posted on X on Monday. Adraee said the Israeli military will have to act against their terrorist activities in the neighbourhood soon. The drone boat rescue near the Strait of Hormuz happened amid these wider tensions. The Apache crash investigation remains ongoing.

With inputs from PTI