Key Facts

• A US Army Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after being struck by an Iranian drone.
• The two US pilots were rescued safely by an unmanned surface vessel and picked up by another helicopter.
• President Donald Trump accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter and ordered retaliatory strikes.
• Iran denied the helicopter was deliberately attacked and warned foreign forces near its territory were at risk.
• The US launched self-defense strikes on several locations in southern Iran, including islands and ports.
• The incident risks breaking the fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan in April between the US and Iran.
• The US Navy unit involved in the rescue uses artificial intelligence and uncrewed systems.
• Both sides seem cautious to avoid a full-scale conflict, but tensions could escalate quickly.