A U.S. Navy crew was shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S. military said Sunday. The two-person crew, consisting of a pilot and a weapons officer, were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident.
The incident occurred as the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The U.S. military’s Central Command did not provide specific details about the mission at the time of the incident.
According to a statement from Central Command, 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 aircraft that was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman. The circumstances surrounding how the Gettysburg could mistake the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile were not immediately clear, especially considering the close communication and radar connections between ships in a battle group.
Prior to the incident, CENTCOM had reported conducting precision airstrikes in Houthi-controlled territory in Sana’a, Yemen. The strikes targeted a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility in response to ongoing Houthi attacks on U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels in the Southern Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
During the operation, CENTCOM forces also successfully shot down several Houthi attack drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea. The escalation of hostilities in the region was further evidenced by a rocket fired from Yemen that struck an area in Tel Aviv, injuring at least 16 people. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target, though the target was not specified.
Since the arrival of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. has increased its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding areas. The presence of the American warship group may provoke further attacks from the rebels, similar to previous incidents involving the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower earlier in the year.
Houthi-controlled media reported U.S. strikes in both Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida on Saturday, without providing details on casualties or damage. Strikes in Sanaa appeared to target a mountainside known to house military installations. The Houthis did not acknowledge the downing of the aircraft in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have targeted approximately 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones in solidarity with the militant group Hamas since the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip began in October 2023. The rebels have seized one vessel and sunk two in a campaign that has resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by U.S. and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their intended targets, which have included Western military vessels.
The Houthis claim to target ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the United Kingdom to pressure an end to Israel’s operations against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the attacked ships have minimal or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran. Additionally, the Houthis have increasingly targeted Israel with drones and missiles, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the Israeli military.
The escalation of hostilities in the region poses significant challenges and risks for all parties involved, with the potential for further incidents and casualties. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis and their adversaries continues to impact maritime security in the Red Sea and surrounding areas, necessitating a coordinated and strategic approach to de-escalation and resolution.
