Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident

Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the US military says. Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident.

The incident came as the US military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, though the US military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at the time.

“The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman,” Central Command says in a statement.

CENTCOM confirms strikes on Houthi missile storage facility and command center in Sana’a

US Central Command confirms having conducted airstrikes in Sana’a, Yemen earlier this evening, saying it targeted a missile storage facility and a command-and-control site operated by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

CENTCOM says the attack will degrade Houthi capabilities to conduct attacks such as ones that have targeted US warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. It makes no mention of last night’s Houthi missile attack in Tel Aviv.

During the operation, CENTCOM forces also shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea, CENTCOM says.

“The strike reflects CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment to protect U.S. and coalition personnel, regional partners and international shipping,” the statement adds.

CENTCOM Conducts Airstrikes Against Iran-Backed Houthi Missile Storage and Command/Control Facilities in Yemen

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted precision airstrikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by… pic.twitter.com/YRWWQJIweP

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 21, 2024