An American fighter jet, an F/A-18 Hornet, was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea in what the US military described as a “friendly fire” incident.
Both crew members ejected safely, though one sustained minor injuries, according to the US Central Command.
The mishap occurred shortly after the US launched airstrikes targeting missile storage sites and command facilities operated by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
CENTCOM confirmed that the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser, had unintentionally fired on the jet, which was flying off the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.
In a statement, CENTCOM disclosed, “The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18.”
While it remains unclear if the downed aircraft participated in the Yemen operation, CENTCOM emphasized that the crew’s safety was secured.
The incident followed a broader US campaign targeting Houthi military assets.
The strikes aimed to “disrupt and degrade” Houthi capabilities following escalating attacks on international shipping and US naval assets in the region.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group that controls much of north-western Yemen, intensified their attacks on international and Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea following the Gaza war in October 2023.
Houthi forces claimed solidarity with Palestinians, though their operations have caused widespread disruption, including the sinking of two ships since November 2023.
The US military confirmed that recent airstrikes had neutralized “multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile” over the Red Sea. These operations involved both US Navy and Air Force assets.
Tensions have continued to rise as Houthi missile strikes increasingly target Israel.
On Saturday, a missile launched from Yemen struck a park in Tel Aviv after Israeli defenses failed to intercept it. Emergency services reported minor injuries, primarily from shattered glass.
The Houthis claimed responsibility, stating that they used a hypersonic ballistic missile to hit a military target in Israel. In response, Israel carried out strikes on Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure in Yemen, reportedly killing nine people at the Salif port and Ras Issa oil terminal.
In response to the Houthi threat, the US, UK, and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to safeguard shipping lanes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden.
The US reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its allies and international shipping routes.
In a statement, CENTCOM noted, “These strikes underscore our resolve to ensure the safety of international waterways and defend our forces against Houthi aggression.”
