On Saturday, two US Navy pilots ejected safely after their F/A-18 fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent friendly fire incident, as confirmed by US Central Command. The incident occurred when the aircraft, operating from the USS Harry S. Truman, was mistakenly fired upon by the USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser part of the Truman carrier strike group.
Fortunately, both pilots were recovered, with one sustaining minor injuries according to initial assessments. CENTCOM emphasized that the incident was not the result of hostile fire and that a full investigation is currently underway.
Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for shooting down an F/A-18 over the Red Sea and targeting the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. The Houthis alleged that their actions were in response to perceived attacks on their drones and missiles by American and British forces. However, the group has a history of making false claims regarding strikes on US warships in the region.
The US has maintained a significant naval presence in the area due to ongoing conflicts, including the war in Gaza. The Houthis have targeted ships in the Red Sea, citing retaliation for Israel's actions against Hamas.
On the same day as the friendly fire incident, the US conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, including a missile storage facility and a command-and-control center in Sana'a. The strikes involved Navy F/A-18 fighter jets and US Air Force assets, as confirmed by CENTCOM.
Despite the downed F/A-18, the aircraft was not part of the strikes in Yemen, according to US military officials. The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Additionally, Houthi forces claimed to have fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at an Israeli military target in Tel Aviv's Jaffa area. The missile struck Tel Aviv overnight, resulting in minor injuries but no fatalities reported.
