MH-60S Sea Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters destroy 6 Iranian boats

U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk and U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters were used to sink six Iranian small attack craft that were threatening commercial shipping.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper told media that U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawks and U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters were used to sink six Iranian small attack craft on May 4, 2026. These ships are reportedly threatening commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have a tremendous amount of capability and firepower concentrated in and around the strait, including AH-64 Apache and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters used this morning to eliminate six Iranian small boats threatening commercial shipping,” the admiral said.

The helicopter attack came after Iran launched several cruise missiles, drones and small boats to target U.S. ships in the area. Cooper said no U.S. ships, military or commercial, were damaged by the Iranian fires.

“Cruise missiles hit both U.S. Navy ships, but mostly commercial ships. We defended ourselves and, as promised, we defended all commercial ships,” Cooper explained. war zone. “We launched our drones against commercial vessels, as promised, and all vessels were defended, and all small boats were launched against commercial vessels, and all were sunk by Apache and Seahawk helicopters.”

No other details were provided about the U.S. attack, and it is unclear whether the MH-60 and AH-64 operated together or were involved in separate incidents. Navy and Army helicopters are conducting armed patrols in the area, and both helicopters have been seen carrying AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

freedom of project

In particular, just a day ago, US President Donald Trump launched a new initiative called ‘Project Freedom’ to support merchant shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to Cooper, this will be a multi-domain operation focused on creating a defensive umbrella across the Strait of Hormuz to protect U.S. military and commercial shipping in the region.

The admiral said he had contacted dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through the strait to guide ships safely through the narrow trade passage. He also added that CENTCOM is “already starting to see movement.”

As in previous cases, Iran warned against efforts to forcibly reopen navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said Iran has already disrupted Project Freedom’s current operations with today’s attack.

Prime Minister Cooper said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fired several cruise missiles, drones and small boats at the ship. “We have defeated all such threats through the clinical application of defensive munitions,” the admiral said.

Trump didn’t like Iran’s comments very much. fox news If American ships were targeted, the country would be “blown off the face of the earth.” The president did not mention today’s attack in his May 4 statement or social media posts.