Both Pilots from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet Ejected Safely.
The US military stated that an American fighter jet has been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident.
Both pilots from the US Navy F/A-18 Hornet ejected safely.
But one of them is suffering minor injuries, according to Central Command.
This incident came after the US carried out a series of air strikes against a missile storage site.
As well as command facilities in the Yemeni capital Sanaa operated by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
It also hit multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, US Central Command added.
“Friendly Fire”
US Central Command confirmed a “friendly fire” incident over the Red Sea by the following statement:
“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.”
In fact, it is still not clear whether the downed aircraft had been involved in the Yemen operation.
US Military Strikes in Sanaa
Earlier 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”.
The US military also stated that it struck “multiple Houthi one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, or drones.
And also an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea” using “US Air Force and US Navy assets, including F/A-18s”.
The 21st Emirati aid plane arrived at Beirut airport, as part of the “Emirates with You, Lebanon” campaign, which was launched to support our Lebanese brothers under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him. pic.twitter.com/xA2SrP7z7T
— UAE Voice (@uae_voiceeng) December 20, 2024
Who are the Houthis ?
The Houthis are a rebel group that controls north-western Yemen, backed by Iran.
This group started attacking Israeli and international shipping shortly after the start of Gaza conflict in 07, October 2023, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians.
Since November 2023, Houthi missile attacks have sunk two vessels in the Red Sea and damaged others.
They have claimed that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK.
However, the US, UK and 12 other nations launched Operation Prosperity Guardian by last December to protect Red Sea shipping lanes against the attacks.
