US pilots were accidentally attacked by their own forces while flying over the Red Sea.

Two US Navy pilots were shot down on Sunday over the Red Sea in a tragic incident that has left many questioning the safety of our troops. It appears to be a case of "friendly fire," meaning that the pilots were mistakenly targeted by their own forces. Despite this unfortunate turn of events, there is some relief in knowing that both pilots were able to eject from their aircraft and were rescued alive, with only minor injuries.

However, this event highlights the increasing danger in the Red Sea corridor, where there have been ongoing attacks on ships by the Houthi rebels. These rebels, backed by Iran, have not been deterred by the presence of US and European military coalitions patrolling the area.

At the time of the incident, the US military was conducting airstrikes against the Houthi rebels. However, they did not specify the mission of the pilots and did not respond to questions from the media. The pilots had taken off from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which had recently entered the Middle East but had not disclosed its location in the Red Sea.

According to Central Command, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. This particular aircraft was assigned to the "Red Rippers" squadron and was based in Virginia.

It is unclear how the Gettysburg could have mistaken the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, as ships in a battle group are constantly in communication with each other through radar and radio. However, Central Command did mention that earlier that day, there were multiple attacks on the coalition by the Houthis, including drones and an anti-ship cruise missile. This may have caused confusion and split-second decisions for the sailors on the Gettysburg.

Since the arrival of the USS Harry S. Truman, there has been an increase in airstrikes targeting the Houthis and their missile attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding areas. However, the presence of an American warship group may also provoke renewed attacks from the rebels, similar to what happened during the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's deployment earlier this year.

On Saturday night and early Sunday, there were reports of US airstrikes in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen which has been under Houthi control since 2014. Central Command stated that these strikes were targeting a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility, but did not provide any further details. Houthi-controlled media also reported strikes in Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida, but did not mention any casualties or damage.

In a prerecorded statement, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that the rebels had launched eight drones and 17 cruise missiles in their attack. He also alleged that they had shot down the F/A-18, although there is no evidence to support this claim. During the USS Eisenhower's deployment, Saree had made similar exaggerated claims about the carrier being struck by Houthi fire.

The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea, claiming that they are linked to Israel, the US, or the UK. Their aim is to pressure Israel to end its campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. However, their attacks have also targeted ships with no connection to the conflict, including some headed for Iran.

In response to the increased attacks, Israel has also been targeted by drones and missiles from the Houthis. This has resulted in retaliatory airstrikes from Israel. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country would act "forcefully" against the Houthis, with the support of other allied countries.

This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing conflict and turmoil in the Middle East and the danger that our troops face every day. Our thoughts are with the pilots who were involved in this incident and their families. We can only hope that measures will be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

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