The United States has denied reports that a US Navy MH-60R helicopter crashed in the Red Sea after reportedly declaring an emergency.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) dismissed the report in a statement on Tuesday, saying all US military aircraft and personnel across the Middle East were safe and accounted for.
“Reports of a downed U.S. Navy helicopter in the Red Sea are not true,” CENTCOM said.
The command said Iranian state media had been circulating the reports, describing them as false.
The denial came after reports emerged from Iranian state media claiming that a US Navy helicopter had gone down in the Red Sea following an emergency declaration.
CENTCOM did not provide further details on the origin of the reports or whether any US aircraft had experienced an emergency.
The US military has previously rejected similar Iranian reports concerning its aircraft and vessels in the region.
In May, CENTCOM denied an Iranian state television report that a US aircraft had been shot down near Bushehr, saying all US air assets were accounted for.