US Military Reports ‘Friendly Fire’ Downing of Warplane in Red Sea

The US military announced that an American fighter jet was shot down over the Red Sea in what appears to be a “friendly fire” incident. Central Command reported that both crew members from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet successfully ejected, with one sustaining minor injuries. This incident occurred following a series of US air strikes targeting a missile storage site and command facilities in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, which are operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants. US Central Command further stated that it had also struck several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile above the Red Sea. A statement from US Central Command confirmed a “friendly fire” incident took place over the Red Sea. The statement specified: “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, which was flying off the USS Harry S Truman.” The involvement of the downed aircraft in the Yemen operation remains unclear. Previously, Central Command indicated that the strikes against targets in Sanaa were intended to “disrupt and degrade Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden.” The US military also reported striking “multiple Houthi one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea” utilizing “US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F/A-18s.” The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel organization controlling north-western Yemen, initiated attacks on Israeli and international shipping soon after the Gaza war commenced in October 2023, stating their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians. Since November 2023, Houthi missile attacks have resulted in the sinking of two vessels in the Red Sea and damage to additional ships. They have frequently, and often inaccurately, asserted that their targets are exclusively vessels connected to Israel, the US, or the UK. In December of last year, Operation Prosperity Guardian was launched by the US, UK, and 12 other nations with the aim of safeguarding Red Sea shipping lanes from these attacks. Israel’s military reported on Saturday that its efforts to intercept a projectile launched from Yemen were unsuccessful, with the missile striking a park in Tel Aviv. Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, stated that it provided treatment to 16 individuals who sustained “mildly injured” from glass shards originating from shattered windows in adjacent structures. An additional 14 people who suffered minor injuries while en route to protected areas also received treatment, according to the service. A Houthi spokesman asserted that the group struck a military target with a hypersonic ballistic missile. Earlier this week, Israel carried out a series of strikes against what it identified as Houthi military targets, impacting ports and energy infrastructure in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital. Al Masirah TV, which is Houthi-operated, reported that nine fatalities occurred at the port of Salif and the Ras Issa oil terminal. The Houthis have pledged to persist with their attacks until the conflict in Gaza concludes. The US states that its most recent strike is consistent with its commitment to safeguard itself and its allies. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.