A U.S. Navy fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea due to "friendly fire."
According to the Central Command of the U.S. Armed Forces, the incident occurred during airstrikes against Houthi targets. The statement notes that the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly opened fire and shot down an F/A-18 fighter jet that was taking off from the aircraft carrier. Both pilots ejected and were rescued, with one sustaining minor injuries.
It is unclear how the cruiser could have mistaken the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, as ships in the strike group maintain communication through both radar and radio.
The Central Command stated that prior to this, military ships and aircraft had shot down several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. The sailors had mere seconds to make their decision.
After the arrival of the USS Harry S. Truman group, the U.S. intensified airstrikes against the Houthis. However, the presence of U.S. military ships might provoke new attacks from the rebels, similar to the incident with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower earlier this year. This deployment was marked, according to the Navy, by the most intense combat operations since World War II.
On Sunday night, U.S. military aircraft carried out airstrikes on Sana'a, the capital of Yemen, which has been held by the Houthis since 2014. The Central Command reported that their targets included a missile storage facility and a command center.
Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in Sana'a and the area around the port city of Hodeidah, without providing information on casualties or damage. In Sana'a, the strikes appeared to be primarily aimed at a mountainside known to house military facilities.
Since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Houthis have attacked approximately 100 commercial vessels using missiles and drones.
The rebels claim to target ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the UK in an effort to pressure Israel to cease its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the attacked vessels have little to do with the conflict, and some were heading to Iran.
The Houthis are also increasingly attacking Israel itself with drones and missiles, leading to retaliatory airstrikes from Israel.