JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press
MIDDLE EAST
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A U.S. Navy jet was shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent "friendly fire" incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The jet's two pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suff ering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become, with ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area.
The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels at the time of the friendly fire incident, though the U.S. military's Central Command did not elaborate on what the pilots' mission was and did not respond to questions from The Associated Press.
People are also reading... Overcoming homelessness: Couple finds love off the streets of La Crosse La Crosse man accused of taking upskirt photos at Walmart Anna and Jamie rise above La Crosse camps into new, rich lives Taco Broz, Dunkin' and Crystal Eclipse open in La Crosse area -- Steve Cahalan La Crosse man faces child pornography charges La Crosse man arrested for drunken driving after calling police about harassment Meet the high school football All-Tribune honorees La Crosse man arrested for drunken driving with minor in vehicle Logan football's record-setting two-way star named Tribune Player of the Year Shooter identified in shooting at Abundant Life Christian School | Live updates La Crosse battery suspect accused of breaking victim's nose 'Everyone was targeted' in Madison school shooting, police say | Live updates Renovation and revival: Super Buffet reopens with success Police: 2 pounds of cocaine seized from home of Winona woman previously charged with having 1.3 pounds of the drug Coach leading Logan football to exceed expectations named Tribune Coach of the Year
The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said. On Dec. 15, Central Command acknowledged the Truman had entered the Mideast, but hadn't specified that the carrier and its battle group were in the Red Sea.
"The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18," Central Command said in a statement.
From the military's description, the aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
It wasn't immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, particularly as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication.
However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Incoming hostile fire from the Houthis has given sailors just seconds to make decisions in the past.
Since the Truman's arrival, the U.S. has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile fire into the Red Sea and the surrounding area. However, the presence of an American warship group may spark renewed attacks from the rebels, like what the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower saw earlier this year. That deployment marked what the Navy described as its most intense combat since World War II.
On Saturday night and early Sunday, U.S. warplanes conducted airstrikes that shook Sanaa, the capital of Yemen which the Houthis have held since 2014. Central Command described the strikes as targeting a "missile storage facility" and a "command-and-control facility," without elaborating.
Houthi-controlled media reported strikes in both Sanaa and around the port city of Hodeida, without off ering any casualty or damage information. In Sanaa, strikes appeared particularly targeted at a mountainside known to be home to military installations. However, there were no images or information released regarding the strikes -- which has happened previously when airstrikes hit vital facilities for the rebels.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, released a prerecorded statement hours later in which he claimed the rebels launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in their attack. He also claimed without off ering any evidence that the Houthis shot down the F/A-18, likely following a pattern of him making exaggerated claims. During the Eisenhower's deployment, he repeatedly falsely claimed the carrier had been struck by Houthi fire.
The Houthis have targeted about 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023 after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage.
Israel's grinding off ensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, local health officials say. The tally doesn't distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two in a campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate U.S. and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military vessels.
The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
The Houthis also have increasingly targeted Israel itself with drones and missiles, resulting in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country would act "forcefully" against the Houthis, as it has against other allies of Iran, "only in this case, we are not acting alone."
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.