US Navy Pilots Shot Down in Red Sea ‘Friendly Fire’ Incident: US Military Statement
DUBA, Saudi Arabia — Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries.
Details of the Incident
The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time of the friendly fire incident. The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18. The aircraft shot down was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.
Reactions and Concerns
It wasn’t immediately clear how the Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile. However, Central Command said that warships and aircraft earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Since the Truman’s arrival, the U.S. has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile fire into the Red Sea and the surrounding area. The presence of an American warship group may spark renewed attacks from the rebels.
International Tensions
The Houthis have targeted about 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip started in October 2023. Israel’s grinding offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians. The Houthis maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the United Kingdom to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The rebels have increasingly targeted Israel itself with drones and missiles, resulting in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes.
In the midst of escalating tensions, the international community watches as the situation unfolds, unsure of the potential outcomes and consequences of these targeted attacks. How will this incident impact future military operations in the region, and what steps will be taken to prevent such friendly fire incidents in the future? As the situation develops, the need for clear communication and coordination between military forces becomes more crucial than ever.
