U.S. special operations command strikes Iranian ship in the Persian Gulf

In the late 1980s, following the Iran-Iraq War, tensions in the Persian Gulf escalated as Iranian forces began laying mines, threatening commercial shipping. The United States, under the operation known as Operation Earnest Will, aimed to protect Kuwaiti oil tankers from Iranian aggression. This is when U.S. Special Operations Command, formed to enhance coordination between the special operations branches of the Armed Services, stepped in to address this emerging threat. During Operation Prime Chance, the U.S. Navy and the elite 160th Special Operations Regiment, known as 'The Night Stalkers,' acted decisively when they spotted an Iranian vessel, the Iran Ajr, engaged in minelaying activities. Utilizing advanced helicopters, including the AH-6M and MH-6M, the operation employed helicopter assaults that destroyed the vessel and led to the capture of surviving crew members. Despite the severity of the attack, it demonstrated refined military tactics and improved joint operational capabilities. As a result of the operation, which occurred within days and contrastingly shorter than the previously extended U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Iran, the U.S. military took significant strides toward retaliatory justice. The surviving Iranian crew members were later released, signaling a tactical success but also underscoring the ongoing complexities in U.S.-Iran relations. In the following year, events escalated further with Operation Praying Mantis that would further retaliate against Iran. Ultimately, Operation Prime Chance proved to be more than just a military engagement; it served as a practical demonstration of the effectiveness of joint special operations. This mission helped solidify the operational concept of USSOCOM and illustrated the importance of coordinated military responses in addressing threats in volatile regions such as the Persian Gulf.