Two US Navy pilots were shot dead in an apparent “friendly fire” incident over the Red Sea on Sunday, the US military said, marking the first time in more than a year that US troops have been targeted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. This is the most serious incident of bullying.
Both pilots were recovered alive, while one suffered minor injuries, but the incident underscores the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the Red Sea despite patrols in the area by the U.S. and European military coalitions. How dangerous the corridor has become.
The U.S. military carried out airstrikes at the time targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though U.S. Army Central Command did not say what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.
The downed F/A-18 had just flown off the deck USS Harry S Truman The aircraft carrier, Central Command said. Central Command accepted it on 15 December Truman Middle East, but did not specify that the carrier and her battle group were in the Red Sea.
“Guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburgwhich is part of USS Harry S Truman The carrier strike group accidentally fired and attacked the F/A-18, Central Command said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear how Gettysburg F/A-18s may be mistaken for enemy aircraft or missiles, especially when ships in the battle group are linked by both radar and radio communications. However, the Central Command said warships and aircraft had earlier shot down several Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels.
Since Truman’s arrival, the US has stepped up its airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missiles in the Red Sea and the surrounding region. However, the presence of the US battleship group could lead to renewed attacks from the rebels USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Saw it last year. That deployment was described by the Navy as the most intense combat since World War II.
The Houthis have targeted nearly 100 merchant ships with missiles and drones since the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and injuring 250 others. Was taken hostage.
Local health officials say more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s massive offensive in Gaza. This tally does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
The Houthis have seized one ship and sunk two in an operation that also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by separate US and European-led coalitions in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, including Western military ships.
The rebels say they target ships belonging to Israel, the United States or the United Kingdom to end Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, with some bound for Iran.