US Navy Pilots Injured in Red Sea Friendly Fire

In a 'friendly fire' incident, a US Navy guided missile cruiser, the USS Gettysburg, mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet over the Red Sea. Both pilots ejected safely, with one sustaining minor injuries. The incident occurred amid US military airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly identified the jet as a hostile target despite being linked by radar and communication systems. The US Central Command has confirmed the incident and announced an investigation, while the region remains tense due to ongoing Houthi attacks on shipping. The Houthis have launched numerous assaults on vessels since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, posing a significant threat to international shipping routes.