US-Iran Maritime Tensions in the Persian Gulf: LASER Incidents and Aircraft Safety

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported an incident in the Persian Gulf involving vessels from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and a US military helicopter. IRGC ships reportedly directed laser beams toward the AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to the 26th U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit. The helicopter sustained no damage and there were no casualties, according to CENTCOM statements. This event underscores ongoing maritime frictions in a region where naval forces from the United States and Iran frequently cross paths near contested waters. The military notes that such laser activity poses a credible risk to flight crews and amplifies the potential for miscalculation during close-range maneuvers at sea.