On Sunday, December 22, two US Navy pilots survived a strike that targeted their plane over the Red Sea, shot down “by mistake” by a missile fired from its own camp.
The American guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg has “shot by mistake” on an F/A-18 fighter plane which had taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and on board which were the two American navy pilots, reports Ouest France. The incident took place above the Red Sea.
“One of the crew members was slightly injured“, reported the American Central Command for the Middle East (Centcom) in a press release. An investigation was opened for “a suspected case of friendly fire“.
An essential maritime area
The American cruiser is in the area as part of the establishment of a multinational naval coalition in response to the attacks carried out in recent months off the coast of Yemen by the Houthi rebels, disrupting traffic in the Red Sea. This region, along with the Gulf of Aden, are considered critical maritime areas for global trade. The rebels, supported by Iran, are targeting ships they consider linked to Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the context of the conflict ravaging the Gaza Strip. Attacks that pushed Washington to strike rebel targets in Yemen.
On Saturday, December 21, the United States claimed to have shot down Houthi military installations in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, in response to a shot claimed by the rebels, causing 16 minor injuries in central Israel. Rebel drones and cruise missiles were also shot down over the Red Sea, according to U.S. Middle East Central Command Centcom.
published on December 22 at 10:50 a.m., Joy Azzi, 6Medias
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