- 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.
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