Two US Navy pilots safely ejected from their F/A-18 fighter jet on Saturday after it was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent friendly fire incident. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the aircraft was operating from the USS Harry S. Truman when it was unintentionally fired upon by the USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser within the Truman carrier strike group.
The pilots were successfully recovered, with one sustaining minor injuries, CENTCOM confirmed. The command emphasized that the incident was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway to determine the causes behind the misfire.
The Red Sea remains a strategic and volatile region, with heightened tensions due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The US Navy has maintained a strong presence in the area since the escalation of violence in Gaza, with the Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group in Yemen, repeatedly targeting ships in the Red Sea as part of their stated opposition to Israel.
Context and Regional Tensions
On the same day as the friendly fire incident, the US conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting a missile storage facility and a command-and-control center in Sana’a. These strikes were carried out by Navy F/A-18 fighter jets and other Air Force assets. Additionally, US forces intercepted one-way attack drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Houthis.
While CENTCOM clarified that the downed F/A-18 fighter jet was not involved in the Yemen strikes, the regional tensions remain high. The Houthis, controlling large parts of Yemen, have vowed to continue attacks against Israel and its allies until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Houthi Missile Strike
Adding to the complexities of the day, Houthi forces claimed responsibility for firing a hypersonic ballistic missile at Tel Aviv’s Jaffa area. Israeli authorities reported the missile struck Tel Aviv early Saturday, causing over a dozen minor injuries but no fatalities. The failed interception marked a rare breach of the city’s defenses.
Investigation Ongoing
The friendly fire incident underscores the challenges of operating in a densely militarized and tense region. CENTCOM continues its investigation, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future while maintaining a vigilant presence in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.