The United States military confirmed an unusual and troubling case of friendly fire on Sunday, when one of its own guided-missile cruisers accidentally shot down an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet over the Red Sea. Both pilots safely ejected and were rescued, though one sustained minor injuries.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning when the USS Gettysburg, part of the Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, mistakenly fired on the jet shortly after it had launched from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the event as an “apparent case of friendly fire” and confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the error.
Region in Turmoil
The Red Sea has become a flashpoint of military activity over the past year, with the US and its allies clashing with Yemen’s Houthi fighters, who are backed by Iran. The Houthis have carried out attacks on commercial shipping and military assets in the region, which is a critical maritime corridor for global trade.
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Just a day before the friendly fire incident, the US military intercepted several drones and missiles launched by the Houthis, aimed at US and British assets in the region. In response, American forces conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi missile storage and command facilities in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. These actions underline the complex and volatile dynamics of the region, where incidents like this friendly fire can have far-reaching consequences.
Conflicting Claims from Houthis
According to a statement released on Sunday, Yemen’s Houthi fighters claimed responsibility for shooting down the F/A-18 and targeting the USS Harry S. Truman. These assertions were quickly dismissed by CENTCOM, which emphasized that the downing of the jet was not the result of hostile fire but an internal error. The Houthis, who control significant parts of Yemen, have a history of making unverified claims about successful attacks on US and allied military assets.
Tensions with Israel Escalate
In a separate development, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel’s commercial hub of Tel Aviv on Saturday. The missile strike, which caused minor injuries to over a dozen people, marked a significant escalation in the Houthis’ involvement in the broader regional conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, calling the Houthis a “terrorist arm” of Iran’s network in the region.
The Houthis’ attacks on Israel come amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Gaza war, with the group declaring its solidarity with Palestinians. Israeli forces have previously targeted Houthi positions in Yemen in response to similar strikes, and Netanyahu’s latest remarks suggest that further retaliatory measures are imminent.
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This friendly fire incident is the first known downing of a manned US aircraft in the region since operations against the Houthis intensified. While CENTCOM is investigating the specifics of the error, the event highlights the high-pressure environment faced by military personnel in contested regions like the Red Sea.