US Fighter Jet Accidentally Shot Down While Striking Yemen

An American F/A-18 fighter jet, carrying two pilots, was struck by what is described as "friendly fire" in the airspace over the Red Sea, according to reports from the AP citing the US Central Command. The agency noted that this incident marks the most serious occurrence since the launch of Operation 'Guardians of Prosperity' against Yemen's Houthi rebels, which the US commenced a year ago.

According to the command’s data, fire on the fighter jet was mistakenly opened by the USS Gettysburg, a missile cruiser that is part of a strike group led by the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. At the time, US military personnel were conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets. The F/A-18 was downed shortly after taking off from the carrier's deck.

The pilots ejected, with one sustaining minor injuries.

Just a day prior, powerful explosions were reported in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, as the US-British coalition conducted airstrikes on the city, which has a population of 3.5 million. The Pentagon has already announced that the targets of the US strikes in Sanaa included Houthi missile storage and command centers. The exact number of casualties and injuries remains unknown.

The USS Harry S. Truman arrived in the Red Sea on December 15, and since then, the US has intensified strikes on Houthi positions.