On February 19, Houthi rebels made a significant escalation in their military interactions with the U.S. by firing surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) at American aircraft. The first incident involved a U.S. F-16 fighter jet flying over the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. Fortunately, the missile did not hit the jet. Shortly after, another SAM was fired at an American MQ-9 Reaper drone operating outside Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
This marked the first time the Houthis targeted an American F-16 fighter jet with a SAM missile, raising concerns among senior U.S. defense officials. The ongoing conflict between the Iranian-backed group and the U.S. Navy and Air Force has intensified following these attacks.
