Two United States Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Sunday in what the U.S. military has described as a “friendly fire” incident. The event, involving a mistaken missile strike from a U.S. warship, represents a significant escalation in the risks faced by American forces engaged in operations in the region.
Both pilots successfully ejected from their F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet and were recovered. One sustained minor injuries. The aircraft, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, had launched from the deck of the Truman before being struck by a missile fired from the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser within the same battle group.
A Risky Theatre of Operations
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea, a corridor that has seen increasing attacks by the Houthi rebels of Yemen, who are backed by Iran. These attacks have targeted commercial shipping and, occasionally, military vessels. In response, U.S. and European coalitions have intensified patrols in the region to protect maritime traffic.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed the incident in a statement, acknowledging the mistaken missile strike but providing limited additional details. The cause of the misidentification remains unclear, given the advanced radar and communication systems that typically link ships and aircraft in a carrier strike group. Central Command noted, however, that recent operations had involved engagements with multiple Houthi drones and a cruise missile, which may have contributed to the confusion.
Escalating Conflict in Yemen
The U.S. Navy has intensified its air operations in recent weeks, targeting Houthi missile sites and command centres in Yemen. On Saturday night and into early Sunday, U.S. warplanes launched airstrikes on sites in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and the port city of Hodeida. These strikes, described by Central Command as targeting a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” come as the Houthis continue to fire missiles and drones into the Red Sea, threatening international shipping.
The Houthis, who have held Sanaa since 2014, acknowledged the shootdown of the U.S. aircraft, though they offered no comment on the nature of the U.S. strikes.
Threats to Maritime Security
The Houthis have escalated attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023, coinciding with the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. These attacks have targeted over 100 merchant vessels, using missiles and drones. While the rebels claim to target ships linked to Israel, the U.S., and the United Kingdom, many of the affected vessels appear to have no clear connection to the Gaza conflict.
The Houthis have also targeted Israel directly, prompting retaliatory airstrikes. The group’s campaign against shipping has resulted in the seizure of one vessel, the sinking of two others, and the deaths of four sailors. U.S. and European forces in the region have intercepted several additional attacks, preventing further damage.
Strategic and Operational Challenges
The Red Sea has become a flashpoint for overlapping conflicts, with the Houthis’ actions in the area exacerbating tensions and creating significant risks for military and civilian operations. The USS Harry S. Truman’s arrival in the region, part of a broader U.S. effort to counter Houthi threats, has intensified the focus on maritime security.
This deployment follows the earlier deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which saw extensive combat during its mission. Such operations highlight the growing complexity and intensity of U.S. military engagements in the Middle East.
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