A US fighter jet went down over the Red Sea in a “friendly fire” incident, according to the US military. Both crew members from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet ejected safely, with one sustaining minor injuries, Central Command reported.
The incident followed US airstrikes targeting a missile storage site and command facilities in Sanaa, Yemen, operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants. Central Command also reported hitting multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea.
US Central Command confirmed the “friendly fire” incident in a statement. “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, which was flying off the USS Harry S Truman,” the statement said. The involvement of the downed aircraft in the Yemen operation remains unclear.
Earlier, Central Command stated the strikes in Sanaa aimed to “disrupt and degrade Houthi operations,” targeting attacks on US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. The US military also struck “multiple Houthi one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea,” utilizing “US Air Force and Navy assets, including F/A-18s.”
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group controlling northwestern Yemen, began attacking Israeli and international shipping after the Gaza war started in October 2023. They claimed solidarity with Palestinians. Since November 2023, Houthi missile attacks have sunk two vessels in the Red Sea and damaged others. They often falsely claimed targeting ships linked to Israel, the US, or the UK.
In December, the US, UK, and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping lanes from these attacks. Reuters reported that two Israeli military personnel, examining a crater from a Houthi missile attack in Tel Aviv, noted swings and playground equipment in the background.
A Houthi missile hit Tel Aviv on Saturday, injuring 16 people. Israel’s military said its attempts to shoot down a projectile from Yemen failed, striking a park in Tel Aviv. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, treated 16 people for minor injuries from glass shards and 14 others who suffered minor injuries while seeking protection.
A Houthi spokesman claimed the group hit a military target with a hypersonic ballistic missile. Earlier in the week, Israel struck Houthi military targets, hitting ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa, Yemen. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported nine deaths in the port of Salif and the Ras Issa oil terminal.
The Houthis vowed to continue attacks until the Gaza war ends. The US stated its latest strike as part of a commitment to protect itself and its allies.
