U.S. Central Command on Monday night pushed back on reports circulating widely online that a U.S. Navy helicopter had crashed or been shot down over the Red Sea, saying the claims were false and originated from Iranian state media.
CENTCOM said in a statement that an MH-60R helicopter had declared an emergency the previous night, which fueled speculation on social media platform X that the aircraft had gone down or been shot down. CENTCOM rejected both versions of the story.
CLAIM: Iranian state media has been pushing false reports that a U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter crashed in the Red Sea after declaring an emergency last night.
FACT: Reports of a downed U.S. Navy helicopter in the Red Sea are not true. All U.S. military aircraft and personnel across the Middle East are safe and accounted for.
CENTCOM’s statement indicates that all U.S. military aircraft and personnel in the Middle East are safe and accounted for, suggesting that any emergency involving the aircraft ended without incident or casualties.
The episode comes as the United States maintains a naval presence and economic pressure campaign against Iran, which officials and regional observers say has strained the Iranian economy. Iran’s national security adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, acknowledged that the country’s economy has entered what he described as “one of the most difficult periods” in its history.
Rezaei’s comments mark a notable shift in tone from Iranian officials, who last week made combative public statements, around the same time President Donald Trump addressed the regime directly.
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