CAIRO, April 4 - An Iranian one-way drone strike severely damaged a parked U.S. Army CH-47F Chinook transport helicopter at Camp Buehring in Kuwait, according to reports and images circulating online. No U.S. personnel were injured in the attack, multiple sources said.
Photos from the base show the helicopter’s cockpit area torn apart, with visible destruction to the forward rotor assembly and front blades. The damage suggests the aircraft was hit directly or by a blast close enough to cripple its flight components. Analysts said the helicopter may be beyond repair, as restoring an aircraft with such severe structural damage is often not practical.
Iranian state media, including Press TV and Mehr News Agency, released unverified pictures of the wreckage on Saturday, claiming the aircraft was targeted by Iran. One report said the helicopter was part of a search and rescue mission for the crew of a downed U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet inside Iran. A second report, citing Iran’s SNN TV channel, claimed the helicopter was completely destroyed.
The Pentagon and White House have not confirmed the claims. The U.S. Army said investigations are underway to assess the full extent of damage and to review security measures at Camp Buehring.
Camp Buehring is a key U.S. military hub in Kuwait, supporting troop deployments and logistics across the region. The strike on a parked transport helicopter highlights the vulnerability of high-value aircraft to low-cost drone attacks, experts said.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following the downing of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran on Friday. American forces retrieved one crew member from that jet, who is alive and receiving medical treatment. The fate of a second crew member remains uncertain as search and rescue operations continue.
Iran also claimed its air defense systems shot down a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft near the Strait of Hormuz, with the plane crashing into the Persian Gulf. The Iranian army separately said it struck two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters involved in search and rescue operations, causing minor injuries to U.S. personnel, though all service members were reported safe.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the destruction of American military aircraft would not affect diplomatic discussions with Iran. “No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in a war,” Trump told NBC News, dismissing the notion that the events would impede negotiations.
Iran has rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, according to multiple reports. The Iranian military launched a fresh wave of drone attacks against U.S. installations in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait on Saturday, state broadcaster Press TV reported.
The Pentagon has not issued an immediate comment on the latest strikes.