Naval Forces Central Command. The incident occurred during a routine flight in international airspace over the Gulf. The targeted aircraft was an AH-1Z Viper helicopter, belonging to a unit deployed on the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship.

The USS Bataan was sent to the region as part of American efforts to deter seizures of commercial tanker ships by Tehran. The U.S. military has reported that Iran has either seized or attempted to take control of nearly 20 internationally flagged ships in the region over the past two years. This aggressive behavior has raised concerns about maritime security and the safety of U.S. and partner nation lives.

Commander Chernitzer strongly condemned the incident, calling it "unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior" by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. He emphasized that these actions are not characteristic of a professional maritime force and urged Iran to immediately cease such actions.

Fortunately, no one was injured, and the helicopter sustained no damage. However, this incident is just the latest in a series of confrontations between the U.S. and Iran in the region. Tensions escalated after then-U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic.

In June of this year, a U.S. Navy warship had to fire a warning flare to deter an Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat that was approaching it in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Iranian forces have recently seized two oil tankers, one of which was heading for Texas, within a week in the Gulf of Oman.

Furthermore, in 2021, the Pentagon accused Iran of engaging in "unsafe and unprofessional" conduct when a naval helicopter flew within approximately 25 yards of a U.S. Navy ship in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian media even published a video showing the helicopter flying low and circling the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship.

The U.S. military has vowed to remain vigilant and continue to operate in accordance with international law while promoting regional maritime security. However, these repeated incidents highlight the need for heightened awareness and caution in the region. The international community will closely monitor Iran's actions as tensions continue to simmer between the two nations.