Muscat: Two crew members were safely rescued by US forces after their Apache helicopter went down off the Omani coast near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, as confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday. The soldiers were rescued within approximately two hours and are reportedly in stable condition. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, with CENTCOM noting that the military helicopter was patrolling regional waters at the time of the incident. Apache attack helicopters are typically deployed for precision strikes, close air support, and air reconnaissance.
According to Ghana News Agency, tensions in the region have escalated following Iran's armed forces firing missiles at Israel on Sunday, marking the first such action in two months despite a ceasefire agreement with the US. In retaliation, the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on Iran. Both nations subsequently announced the suspension of mutual hostilities later on Monday.
A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has been in effect since April 8, established more than a month after the US and Israel initiated their conflict with Iran on February 28. US President Donald Trump is actively seeking a long-term agreement with Iran to resolve the conflict. However, the recent developments pose a significant challenge to the ongoing negotiations. Trump has downplayed the consequences, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also need to agree to any potential deal.