U.S. Navy pilots survive friendly fire incident over Red Sea
Two American Navy pilots were struck by a ship due to accidental fire while on a mission over the Red Sea, as reported by the U.S. Central Command.
The incident occurred during an operation targeting the Houthi rebels from Yemen, according to the "Daily Mail". The missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of an aircraft carrier strike group, mistakenly fired and hit an F/A-18 fighter jet taking off from the same base.
Both pilots managed to eject in time and are safe. One of them sustained minor injuries, added the U.S. Central Command. The American agency Associated Press described the incident as "the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels."
The "Daily Mail", quoting a Houthi leader, claims that the militants do not want to attack Europeans or Chinese. At the same time, he warned of retaliatory military actions if their forces are attacked or their naval assets targeted. Since Israel's offensive in Gaza, ships passing by Yemen have frequently been attacked by the Houthis. Many companies choose to take a longer route around Africa for safety reasons, but this incurs additional costs - adds the British portal.
U.S. attacks on military facilities in Yemen
As the BBC reminds us, the incident occurred after the United States conducted a series of airstrikes on a missile depot and command facilities in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. It is there that Houthi militants supported by Iran are based.
The Americans reportedly conducted fire over the Red Sea against many Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile.
The Houthis are a rebel group supported by Iran, controlling northwestern Yemen - the BBC reminds us. They began attacking Israeli and international ships shortly after the start of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, claiming they act in solidarity with Palestinians. They assert they attack only targets related to Israel, the USA, or the UK.
