2 U.S. Navy pilots eject safely after fighter jet shot down over Red Sea by likely “friendly fire,” officials say
Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S. military said on Sunday. Both pilots were rescued, but one suffered minor injuries in the incident.
At the time of the incident, the US military carried out air strikes on the target Iran-backed Houthi rebels in YemenHowever, U.S. Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at that time.
“The USS Gettysburg guided missile cruiser, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly opened fire on and hit an F/A-18 taking off from the USS Harry S. Truman,” Central Command said in a statement statement.
It’s unclear how the Gettysburg mistook the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, especially since the ships in the battle group were still in contact via radar and radio communications.
Earlier on Saturday, Central Command reported it conducted precision air strikes on a missile storage facility and a command and control facility in Houthi-controlled areas of Sanaa, Yemen.
The strike is in response to ongoing Houthi armed attack U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels in the southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, U.S. Central Command said.
During the operation, Central Command forces also shot down several Houthi armed drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea.
Early Saturday morning, a rocket Fired from Yemen At least 16 people were injured in an attack in an area of ​​Tel Aviv. The Houthis issued a statement on Telegram saying they aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target, but they did not disclose the specific target.
After the arrival of the Truman, the United States stepped up air strikes against the Houthis and launched missiles into the Red Sea and surrounding areas. However, the presence of the US warships could trigger a new wave of rebel attacks, e.g. What the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Saw earlier this year. This deployment marks The Navy said it was the fiercest fighting since World War II.
Houthi-controlled media on Saturday reported U.S. attacks on Sanaa and areas around the port city of Hodeidah, but did not provide any information on casualties or damage. In Sana’a, the attacks appeared to specifically target hillsides known to be home to military installations. The Houthis deny that the plane was shot down in the Red Sea.
Houthis Targeted Since then, about 100 commercial ships carrying missiles and drones have supported the militant group Hamas Israel-Hamas War The project in the Gaza Strip starts in October 2023.
Houthis seize a ship and sank two ships In a battle that also resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Other missiles and drones have intercepted Attacks in the Red Sea by coalitions led by the United States and Europe, which have also included Western warships, have either failed to reach their targets.
The rebels insist they target ships with links to Israel, the United States or Britain in an effort to pressure Israel to end Hamas operations in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked had little to do with the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
The Houthis have also increasingly targeted the Israeli mainland with drones and missiles, leading to Israeli retaliatory air strikes.
