An American warplane was shot down by “friendly fire” in the Red Sea. According to the US Army Central Command, the F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly attacked by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. However, the plane’s pilots were able to exit safely, and one of them was slightly injured. British media reported the news.
Before the incident, US forces carried out a series of airstrikes targeting missile depots and command posts of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. In addition, a Houthi drone and an anti-ship cruise missile were destroyed in the Red Sea.
According to a Central Command statement, the USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, accidentally fired on an F/A-18 Hornet. The plane took off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. However, it could not be confirmed whether the plane participated in the Yemen operation.
The Houthi rebels have launched attacks on Israeli and international ships since last October in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war. They claim that these attacks only target ships belonging to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom. However, many of her claims have been proven false.
Since November 2023, Houthi missile attacks have sunk two ships and damaged several others in the Red Sea. To deal with this situation, the United States, the United Kingdom and 12 other countries jointly launched Operation Prosperity Sentinel, which is conducted to ensure the security of the waterways in the Red Sea.
Recently, Israel attacked Houthi targets in Yemen. It caused damage to the port of Sanaa and energy infrastructure. The Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that nine people were killed in the attack on Al-Salif Port and Ras Issa Oil Port.
The Houthi rebels announced that they would continue their attacks until the end of the war in Gaza. On the other hand, the United States continues to attack the Houthi rebels as part of its commitment to protect its allies.
Tensions are rising in the Red Sea and surrounding areas after this incident. The US military said it was taking urgent steps to prevent the recurrence of such friendly fire attacks.