2 US Navy Pilots Shot Down In A "Friendly Fire" Over Red Sea (image @CENTCOM)
An American fighter jet has been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, said US military. Both crew from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet ejected safely, with one suffering minor injuries, as per Central Command. The incident happened after Washington carried out a series of air strikes against a missile storage site and command facilities in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which was operated by the Houthis. operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
US also said It hit multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over 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, which was flying off the USS Harry S Truman”, read the statement released by US Central Command.
It is not clarified if the downed aircraft had been involved in the Yemen operation. Earlier, the Central Command said the strikes against targets in Sanaa aimed 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”.
Also Read: Houthis Launch Missile, Drone Attacks On US Warships
The US military also added that it struck “multiple Houthi one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones, and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea” using “US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F/A-18s”.
CENTCOM Conducts Airstrikes Against Iran-Backed Houthi Missile Storage and Command/Control Facilities in Yemen
TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted precision airstrikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by… pic.twitter.com/YRWWQJIweP
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 21, 2024
The Houthis started attacking commercial vessels passing through Red Sea pledging support to the Palestinians. The militants asserted that the attack will not be stopped unless Israel stop attacking Gaza. The Iran-aligned group promised to attack every vessels that have link with Israel.
The US attack comes amidst fight between Israel and Houthis. Tel Aviv bombed several targets in Sanaa, including power stations. The attack killed at least nine people in Yemen, and was followed by a missile attack against Israel from Yemen.
For months, the US and the United Kingdom have been bombing Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Red Sea assaults. The administration of US President Joe Biden has also imposed sanctions against the Houthis. Last December, the US, UK and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping lanes against the attacks.
Also Read: “Prepare For Attacks, Best Regard”: Houthis Send Warning Emails To Shipping Companies
On Saturday, Israel’s military said its attempts to shoot down a projectile launched from Yemen were unsuccessful and the missile struck a park in Tel Aviv.
Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, said it treated 16 people who were “mildly injured” by glass shards from shattered windows in nearby buildings, as reported by media. Another 14 people suffered minor injuries on their way to protected areas were also treated.
