DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Sunday, two U.S. Navy pilots were downed over the Red Sea due to a likely “friendly fire” incident, as reported by the U.S. military. This event is considered the most significant threat to American personnel since operations targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels commenced over a year ago.
Both pilots successfully ejected from their damaged two-seat F/A-18 aircraft and were later recovered, with one sustaining minor injuries. This situation highlights the perilous nature of the Red Sea area, which has seen persistent assaults on shipping activities by the Iranian-backed Houthis, despite the presence of U.S. and European military forces conducting patrols in the region.
At the time of the incident, the U.S. forces were reportedly conducting airstrikes aimed at Houthi positions in Yemen, although the specifics of the pilots’ mission were not clarified by the U.S. military’s Central Command, which also did not provide answers to other inquiries.
According to Central Command, the downed F/A-18 had recently launched from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. On December 15, Central Command confirmed the Truman’s deployment to the Middle East, but it had not previously indicated that it was operating in the Red Sea. Central Command announced that the USS Gettysburg, part of the Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired upon and hit the F/A-18, noting that the incident was not caused by hostile fire, and an investigation is underway.
The aircraft involved was part of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, known as the “Red Rippers,” and operates out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. While Central Command referred to both crew members as pilots, typically, a two-seat F/A-18 consists of a pilot and a weapons systems officer.
There is uncertainty surrounding how the Gettysburg could have misidentified an F/A-18 as an enemy aircraft or missile, especially considering that ships within a carrier group maintain continuous radar and radio communication. However, Central Command mentioned that earlier, U.S. forces had successfully intercepted and shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile. Previous encounters with hostile fire from the Houthis have often left sailors with mere seconds for action.
Since the arrival of the Truman, the U.S. military has heightened its airstrike activities against Houthi forces and missile launches into the Red Sea region. Nonetheless, the deployment of American warships could lead to escalated aggression from the rebels, akin to what occurred earlier this year with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which faced some of the fiercest combat operations since World War II.
Over the weekend, U.S. aircraft executed airstrikes that reverberated through the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, which the Houthis have occupied since 2014. Central Command characterized these strikes as targeting a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility,” although it did not provide additional details.
Houthi-affiliated media claimed that strikes had occurred in both Sanaa and near the port city of Hodeida, but did not report on casualties or damage caused. Strikes in Sanaa appeared focused on mountainous regions known for housing military installations, yet no visual evidence or information was released regarding the strikes, which aligns with previous incidents where airstrikes targeted crucial Houthi assets.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, later claimed that the rebels had launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in retaliation. He also asserted, without providing evidence, that the Houthis had shot down the F/A-18, consistent with his history of making exaggerated statements about military engagements. During the Eisenhower’s earlier deployment, he repeatedly claimed that the carrier had been attacked by Houthi forces, a narrative proven to be false.
Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have targeted around 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, following the sudden attack by Hamas that resulted in significant casualties in Israel.
The ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza have reportedly led to over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities. This number does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
In their maritime campaign, the Houthis have seized one vessel and sunk two, which has resulted in the deaths of four sailors. Many Houthi missiles and drones have been intercepted by U.S. and European-led coalitions operating in the Red Sea, while some have failed to reach their intended targets, which also included military vessels from Western nations.
The Houthis assert that their attacks are directed at vessels associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. as a means of pressuring an end to the Israeli operations in Gaza. However, many of these targeted ships are reportedly not connected to the ongoing conflict, and include vessels heading to Iran.
Furthermore, the Houthis have increased their aggression towards Israel, launching drones and missiles that have prompted Israeli counterattacks.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed that Israel would respond “forcefully” against the Houthis, similar to its actions against other Iranian allies, reiterating that “this time, we are not acting alone.” Additional reports from Israeli media suggested that high-ranking security officials believed that instead of targeting Yemen again, Israel should consider direct strikes against Iran in response to the Houthi provocations.
