Iran threatened to shoot down US AH-1Z, UH-1Y and MH-60 helicopters protecting the USS Thomas Hudner and other warships and forced them to land - US denies it

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it threatened to open fire on Marine Corps and US Navy helicopters. They were covering US warships during the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Here's What We Know

Iran has claimed that it forced the US military helicopters to land. However, the U.S. Navy refutes this information. The service said that no helicopters returned to their ship, continuing to support transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Later, Sabrina Singh, deputy spokeswoman for the US Department of Defence, issued a similar statement.

Iran's nearly official Tasnim news agency published photos and video showing a Shahid Mahdavi-like ship (pictured below) and other vessels backed by drones watching US forces. The incident took place on 17 August 2023.

Only the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Thomas Hudner and the Wasp-class landing ship USS Bataan are visible in the published images and video. However, it is known that the US Navy also sent the Harpers Ferry-class landing ship USS Carter Hall to the region in July.

The video captured a dialogue between Iranian and US military personnel. First, the Iranian said hello and greeted the American ships. In response, the American sailor introduced himself and said he was engaged in transit passage in accordance with international law.

The Iranian then mentioned the helicopters that sometimes fly over the country's territorial waters. He added that in case of disobeying orders, fire would be opened on the American helicopters.

It should be emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz is very narrow. Most of it is territorial waters of Iran or Oman. US ships use commercial routes that pass through Iranian waters.

Last month, the US increased its presence in the Persian Gulf. Amid Russian provocations in the skies, the US Air Force has deployed fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to the region. In response to Iranian aggressive actions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon sent ships with helicopters.

USS Carter Hall and USS Bataan carry CH-53E Super Stallion, MH-60 Seahawk, AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom. Also included in the expeditionary force are second-generation AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft and MV-22 Osprey convertible aircraft.

Iranian imagery shows the presence of AH-1Z, UH-1Y and MH-60 helicopters in the airspace during transit. This is a typical way of defending US ships that cross the Strait of Hormuz.

In addition, the Light Marine Air Defence Integrated System (LMADIS) electronic warfare system was caught on video. It is used to suppress unmanned aerial vehicles. The LMADIS system is equipped with the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan.

The quality of the video and photos does not allow to determine the armament of the US helicopters. But earlier the US Navy published images of AV-8B aircraft with AIM-9M Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. AH-1Z attack helicopters were armed with AIM-9M Sidewinder, AGM-179A JAGM and AIM-114P Hellfire missiles.

Source: The War Zone