2023 Israel-Hamas War

AH-64A Peten attack helicopter in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War

Israeli AH-64A Peten attack helicopters flew response and strike missions during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, with 190 Squadron crews documented on October 7 and AH-64A/Peten aircraft photographed over Gaza later that month.

Weapon profileAH-64A Peten attack helicopter
SideIsraelRoleFire SupportInterdiction
AH-64A Peten attack helicopter, Attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - 2023 Israel-Hamas War
Image source: Wikimedia Hatzerim 2013 Peten

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Israel used AH-64A Peten attack helicopters in the opening response to the October 7, 2023 attack.

Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions

190 "Magic Touch" Squadron operated the AH-64A Peten from Ramon Air Base during the war.

Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions, TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod

Pod-equipped AH-64A aircraft were photographed over northern Gaza on October 30, 2023.

Sources: TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod

An Israeli Apache fired a rocket over Gaza on November 20, 2023; the image supports Apache-family use but does not identify the aircraft as Peten rather than Saraph.

Sources: Reuters Apache rocket over Gaza

Timeline

AH-64A Peten attack helicopter In 2023 Israel-Hamas War

  1. 190 Squadron Peten crews join the opening response

    TWZ reported that 190 "Magic Touch" Squadron, the Israeli Air Force's AH-64A Peten unit, was part of the Apache force scrambled after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

    Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions

  2. AH-64A aircraft photographed over northern Gaza

    TWZ identified photographs from the Israeli side of the border as showing pod-equipped AH-64A helicopters over northern Gaza during the Gaza campaign.

    Sources: TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod

  3. Reuters documents an Apache rocket launch over Gaza

    Reuters Connect documented an Israeli military Apache firing a rocket over Gaza as seen from southern Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war.

    Sources: Reuters Apache rocket over Gaza

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The AH-64A Peten was documented in Israeli service during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War through reporting on 190 "Magic Touch" Squadron and imagery from the Gaza campaign. TWZ reported that 190 Squadron, the Israeli Air Force unit responsible for the AH-64A Peten, flew response sorties after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.

Separate conflict imagery supports continued Peten-family activity around Gaza. TWZ identified October 30, 2023 photographs from the Israeli side of the Gaza border as showing pod-equipped AH-64A aircraft over northern Gaza, while Reuters documented an Israeli military Apache firing a rocket over Gaza on November 20, 2023.

Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions, TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod, Reuters Apache rocket over Gaza

Timeline

On October 7, 2023, Israeli Apache crews were scrambled into southern Israel as the attack unfolded. TWZ's account distinguishes the AH-64D Saraph unit from 190 Squadron, which operated the less advanced AH-64A Peten from Ramon Air Base, and describes both Apache units racing to respond.

On October 30, 2023, open press imagery showed pod-equipped AH-64A helicopters over northern Gaza during the campaign. On November 20, Reuters published a Gaza-border image captioned as an Israeli military Apache firing a rocket over Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.

Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions, TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod, Reuters Apache rocket over Gaza

Narrative

The documented user in this conflict is Israel. The supported role is attack-helicopter fire support, interdiction, and strike activity during the opening response in southern Israel and later operations over or near Gaza.

The Peten-specific evidence is strongest where sources identify 190 Squadron or AH-64A airframes. Reuters' November 20 image documents an Israeli Apache firing over Gaza but does not distinguish AH-64A Peten from AH-64D Saraph, so it supports Apache-family combat use in the same conflict rather than variant-specific attribution by itself.

Sources: TWZ October 7 Apache missions, TWZ Israeli AH-64A belly pod, Reuters Apache rocket over Gaza

Related Weapons by Role

AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAH-64 Apache attack helicopterTwin-engine attack helicopterThe AH-64 Apache is a U.S. twin-engine attack helicopter family designed by Hughes Helicopters and continued through McDonnell Douglas and Boeing production. Built around a two-person crew, nose-mounted sensors, a 30 mm chain gun, rockets, and guided missiles, it has direct source-backed combat use from Desert Storm and Iraq to Afghanistan, Sinai, Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, anti-ISIS operations, and recent U.S. operations against Iran.
AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, Twin-engine attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAH-64E Apache attack helicopterTwin-engine attack helicopterThe AH-64E Apache is Boeing's Echo-model Apache variant, developed from the AH-64D Block III remanufacture program and built around improved engines, sensors, networking, and a two-person attack-helicopter weapons station. Direct source-backed conflict records place AH-64E aircraft with U.S. Army units in Operation Inherent Resolve, the 2001 War in Afghanistan's Operation Freedom's Sentinel phase, and Operation Epic Fury during the 2020 United States-Iran Conflict.
M230 30 mm chain gun, 30 mm autocannon, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsM230 30 mm chain gun30 mm autocannonThe M230 30 mm chain gun is an externally powered 30x113 mm autocannon built around Apache helicopter fire support, later adapted into M230LF and XM914 ground counter-UAS variants. Northrop Grumman describes the aviation M230 as the original medium-caliber Chain Gun and the M230LF as a lightweight ground and sea-platform weapon; direct sources document Apache M230 fielding in Afghanistan, Iraq, Operation Inherent Resolve, Israeli Apache use in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, and M230LF-based Slinger systems ordered for Ukraine.
F-15I Ra'am, Two-seat long-range strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15I Ra'amTwo-seat long-range strike fighterThe F-15I Ra'am is Israel's F-15E-derived two-seat strike fighter, built in the United States with Israeli-specific avionics, communications, electronic-warfare, and helmet-sight equipment. Open-source records tie the 69th Squadron aircraft to long-range strike and interdiction roles from the 2006 Lebanon War through Gaza, Hezbollah, Red Sea/Yemen, and Iran operations, while Boeing and Israeli-reference sources describe the original 25-aircraft fleet, F100-PW-229 engines, APG-70 radar, and precision-weapon compatibility.
2 more weapons
Back to AH-64A Peten attack helicopterBrowse 2023 Israel-Hamas War

Sources