A US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8 after apparently being struck by an Iranian Shahed drone, though investigators are still determining whether the $35,000 attack drone hit the aircraft intentionally or by chance. Both crew members were successfully rescued from the water using an unprecedented drone boat deployment, marking a rare maritime rescue operation.

The incident represents the first US Army Apache lost to a drone strike during this conflict, which began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran has launched thousands of Shahed drones since then, primarily targeting stationary facilities like data centers and energy infrastructure. These basic GPS-guided drones typically strike preprogrammed coordinates rather than track moving targets, though some newer Russian-modified variants may offer remote operation capabilities for striking mobile targets.

President Trump publicly blamed Iran and ordered retaliatory strikes against Iranian air defense systems and radar sites. Iran responded by launching missile and drone attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. This exchange further undermines the already fragile ceasefire that began on April 8, with both sides continuing to exchange blows around the strategically vital shipping lane.

The asymmetric cost ratio—$35,000 drone versus $25 million helicopter—highlights how low-cost unmanned systems can threaten expensive military assets. US Central Command confirmed the self-defense strikes targeted Iranian command and control infrastructure near the strait, while Iran's state media reported civilian infrastructure damage affecting at least 20,000 people in Hormozgan province.