The U.S. military has confirmed that a guided missile, mistakenly launched from the warship USS Gettysburg in the Red Sea, struck an American F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, downing it in what appears to be a "friendly fire" incident. According to the statement released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday, both pilots of the downed aircraft safely ejected, with one sustaining minor injuries.

This incident coincided with U.S. airstrikes targeting Houthi rebel missile depots and command centers in Yemen. CENTCOM also reported the interception and destruction of several Houthi drones and anti-ship cruise missiles in the Red Sea. The downed jet, operated by the crew of the USS Harry S. Truman, was reportedly engaged in operations related to these regional tensions, although it is unclear if it was directly involved in the Yemen strikes.

Houthi attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have escalated since November, following Israeli operations in Gaza. Initially focused on Israeli-linked ships, the Houthis have expanded their targets to include U.S., UK, and other international vessels, prompting retaliatory strikes by Western forces. These ongoing confrontations have raised security concerns over the strategic waterways around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.