A US cruiser accidentally shot down a US fighter-bomber over the Red Sea on December 22. It was the most serious incident in more than a year of US operations against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
Points of attention
- The incident of the downing of the American fighter jet shows the growing danger in the Red Sea corridor due to Houthi activity.
- A mistake by the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg soon led to the shooting down of a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet.
- The US maintains a military presence in the Red Sea to protect civilian vessels from attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
- The Houthis are carrying out attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, targeting the US, Europe and Israel, deepening the international conflict.
- The incident resulted in the USS Gettysburg being shot down by an F/A-18 aircraft, highlighting the need for increased security in the region due to the growing threat.
US plane shot down by "friendly fire" over the Red Sea
As noted, as a result of the incident, which the US military is calling "friendly fire", two US Navy pilots were forced to eject. They were found alive, but one of them received minor injuries.
According to US Central Command, the F/A-18 was shot down immediately after takeoff from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, mistakenly fired on and shot down an F/A-18, the Central Command said in a statement. The downed aircraft was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet.
It is not known exactly how the USS Gettysburg could have mistakenly identified the F/A-18 as a hostile target, given that ships in a battle group typically use integrated radar and radio communications systems.
Central Command explained that on the eve of the incident, US ships and aircraft destroyed several Houthi drones and one anti-ship cruise missile.
Since October 2023, when the war between Israel and Hamas began in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have attacked about 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones.
The Houthis say their attacks are targeting ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK, in an attempt to force Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked are unrelated to the conflict, including those bound for Iran.
The Red Sea Corridor has become dangerous
The incident of the downing of the American plane demonstrates the growing danger in the Red Sea corridor due to constant attacks by the Houthis on shipping, even with the region being patrolled by international military forces from the United States and Europe.
In October, the United States announced its intention to maintain a military presence in the Red Sea.
Together with a coalition of allies, they are working to ensure the safety of civilian vessels from attacks by Iranian-backed militants.
