IRIA News

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The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that a U.S. Navy’s guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired upon and hit a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet on December 22, 2024, shortly after the jet took off from the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier.

The jet was assigned to the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. Both pilots aboard the F/A-18 successfully ejected from the aircraft, with one sustaining only minor injuries. The pilots survived the incident, which occurred on Saturday morning over the Red Sea, an area of heightened military activity due to ongoing conflicts in the region.

In a statement, CENTCOM said, “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.” However, the reasons behind the misidentification of the fighter jet as an enemy target remain unclear.

“It wasn’t immediately clear how the Gettysburg mistook a U.S. warplane for an enemy aircraft or missile, especially as ships in a battle group remain linked by both radar and radio communication,” CENTCOM added. A full investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident.

The shooting down of a U.S. fighter jet is the most serious incident to date affecting the U.S. and European military presence in the Red Sea. Both U.S. and European forces have been patrolling the region for months, attempting to protect vital shipping lanes from ongoing attacks by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. These attacks have escalated in recent months, partly because of the broader conflict in the Middle East, including the ongoing Gaza war between Israel and Hamas.

The Red Sea, once a relatively calm waterway for international trade, has become a battleground as the Houthis target commercial shipping. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, the Houthis have increasingly aimed at merchant vessels in the region. Since then, they have targeted around 100 ships with missiles and drones. They have also seized one vessel, sunk two others, and killed four sailors in a string of attacks against international shipping.

This rise in maritime attacks has prompted the U.S. and European powers to send military groups to the Red Sea to protect shipping lanes and maintain regional security. CENTCOM confirmed that around the time of the friendly-fire incident, U.S. military forces were actively engaged in combat against the Houthis. “The U.S. military said it had launched airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed Houthis, who have been carrying out attacks against commercial shipping in the region,” the statement read.

The U.S. also reported shooting down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. Further airstrikes were carried out against Houthi positions near the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, following reports of a Houthi missile striking Israel’s commercial hub, Tel Aviv. CENTCOM confirmed that additional airstrikes were launched on Sunday in response to these provocations.

Regional conflict

The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have openly stated that they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the ongoing Gaza war, a conflict that has spurred retaliatory strikes from Israel against Houthi missile and drone sites. In the past year, these attacks have caused significant disruption to international shipping, with both regional and global powers scrambling to maintain stability.

In one of the most intense engagements, a U.S. aircraft carrier group, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, came under heavy fire earlier this year, marking what the Navy described as its most intense combat since World War II. These incidents are part of a growing pattern of military escalations in the region, with both the U.S. and European military forces trying to prevent further destabilization.

As tensions continue to rise, the question of how the U.S. will respond to incidents like the one involving the USS Gettysburg is growing more urgent. The U.S. Navy’s presence in the Red Sea is critical not only for protecting shipping lanes but also for maintaining pressure on the Houthi rebels and their Iranian backers. However, incidents like the friendly fire shooting down of an American fighter jet underscore the complexity and dangers of operating in such a high-stakes environment.

Military analysts suggest that the U.S. will likely continue to maintain its naval presence in the Red Sea, given the strategic importance of the region. However, as CENTCOM’s investigation into the incident unfolds, questions about communication protocols, radar systems, and identification procedures in such high-pressure situations will likely come under greater scrutiny.