US Says Iran Forces Aimed Laser at American Helicopter

Iranian naval forces repeatedly aimed a laser at an American army helicopter throughout a routine flight in worldwide airspace over the Gulf, the US army stated Thursday.

The helicopter — an AH-1Z Viper — is connected to a unit deployed on the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship, which was despatched to the area as a part of American efforts to discourage seizures of business tanker ships by Tehran.

Iranian “vessels shone a laser a number of occasions on the plane whereas in flight” on Wednesday, spokesman Commander Rick Chernitzer stated in a press release.

“These are usually not the actions of an expert maritime pressure. This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible habits by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy dangers US and companion nation lives and must stop instantly,” Chernitzer added.

The US army says Iran has both seized or tried to take management of practically 20 internationally flagged ships within the area over the previous two years.

There have been a collection of such incidents since then-US President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic.