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Threat Engagement Statistics
Comparison of typical Iranian boat activity versus current encounter
Primary Sources
U.S. military helicopters sink 6 Iranian boats that targeted civilian ...
by MINA ALLEN | The National News DeskMon, May 4, 2026 at 1:01 PMUpdated Mon, May 4, 2026 at 1:17 PMARABIAN SEA - APRIL 20: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images' editorial policy.) In this handout photo provided by U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces patrol the Arabian Sea near M/V Touska on April 20, 2026, after firing upon the Iranian-flagged vessel that the U.S. accused of attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports near the Strait of Hormuz. (Handout Photo by the U.S. Navy via Getty Images)WASHINGTON (TNND) — U.S. military helicopters sank six Iranian small boats that were targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran will be "blown off the face of the Earth" if they attack U.S. vessels carrying out Project Freedom.The strikes come after reports of Iran launching multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships the U.S. military is protecting. During a news conference, Cooper said “each and every one” of the threats had been defeated.Trump made the comments during an interview on Fox News, adding that he believes Iran is "much more malleable" in peace negotiations.“We have more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before," Trump said. “We have the best equipment. We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.”Cooper announced that the U.S. military has cleared a pathway in the strait that is free of any Iranian mines. This comes in an effort to allow commercial vessels to transit the waterway. He added that the U.S. military has set a “defensive umbrella” including U.S. helicopters and fighter planes to protect the freighters leaving the strait.In a call with reporters, Cooper did not specify whether the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. was over. However, he noted that it was Iran that “initiated aggressive behavior” in the Strait on Monday.Cooper said that the U.S. military is serving as a defensive force “to give a very clear defense to commercial shipping."“That’s what we’re focused on,” Cooper said. “What we saw this morning was Iran initiating aggressive behaviors. We are simply going to respond to that.”Earlier Monday, the United Arab Emirates said it was under attack by Iran for the first time...
US Apache and Seahawk helicopters sink 6 Iranian small boats
Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters sunk several Iranian boats, U.S. officials said, as the first day of the operation to escort commercial ships through the Straits of Hormuz resulted in combat. U.S. Army photo. Get Task & Purpose in your inbox Sign up for Task & Purpose Today to get the latest in military news each morning. Army Apaches and Navy Seahawk helicopters destroyed six Iranian small boats on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, according to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command. “We have an enormous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the strait, including AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters used just this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping,” Cooper said during a media roundtable on Monday afternoon. Cooper said other U.S. forces had engaged Iranian missiles and drones, but did not provide details on engagements beyond the helicopter’s attacks. Apaches are the Army’s primary attack helicopter, and carry a 30mm cannon, Hellfire missiles, and other weapons. The Navy flies two versions of the MH-60, a derivative of the H-60 Black Hawk. Both are used for surface and anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue and special operations, and have been used to hunt Iranian drones. Top Stories This Week Cooper did not say where the Apaches or Seahawks were based or if there were any survivors from the Iranian small boats. He also declined to specify what kind of munitions the Apaches and Seahawks used against the boats, saying only they “were very effective.” The small boats, Cooper said, were apparently sent to challenge the U.S. military’s efforts to open a “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil flows. “The [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] has launched multiple cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships we are protecting,” Cooper said. “We have defeated each and every one of those threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions.” Most of the Iranian cruise missiles targeted commercial vessels, but a portion of the missiles were fired at U.S. Navy ships, Cooper said. “We defended both ourselves, and consistent with our commitment, we defended all the commercial ships,” Cooper said. All the drones and small boats were used to attack commercial shipping, he said. Cooper declined to say how many ships the Ir...
US and Iranian militaries trade shots as Strait of Hormuz tensions escalate
Two US-flagged vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz, the military said. President Donald Trump vowed US forces would help guide stranded vessels today. Follow for live ...
US Navy sinks 6 Iranian boats in Hormuz Strait as ceasefire imploding
The U.S. military said on Monday it has sunk six Iranian boats that were targeting civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command Cmdr. Adm, Brad Cooper told reporters that Iran ...
