A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was downed by friendly fire over the Red Sea on Sunday, in what the US military has confirmed as a "friendly fire" incident.
Both crew members ejected safely, with one suffering minor injuries. The jet was part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which had recently carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The downing occurred after the USS Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser, mistakenly fired on the fighter jet.
The incident, confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM), did not involve hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway to determine how the mistake occurred. The F/A-18, which had just taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman, was part of the Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron 11, known as the "Red Rippers."
This event took place during heightened military operations in the region. The US had recently targeted Houthi-controlled missile storage sites and command facilities in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as part of efforts to disrupt the Houthi militia's ability to threaten US Navy warships and merchant vessels operating in the Southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Additionally, US forces reported shooting down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship missile over the Red Sea.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been engaged in attacks against Israeli and international shipping in the Red Sea since October 2023, following the onset of the Gaza conflict.
They have targeted around 100 ships, claiming they are aiming at vessels linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. However, many of these attacks have struck ships with no apparent connection to the ongoing conflict.
The growing tensions in the Red Sea, exacerbated by Houthi missile and drone strikes, have prompted a multinational response. In December 2023, the US, UK, and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect vital shipping lanes.
Despite these efforts, the region remains fraught with danger, with both Houthi and Israeli missile exchanges intensifying.
In related developments, the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until the war in Gaza ends, even as US forces intensify their airstrikes in the region to protect their interests and those of their allies.
This latest friendly fire incident underscores the increasingly complex and dangerous military environment in the Red Sea amidst the ongoing conflict.
