Houthis Claim to Down US F/A-18 in Bold Strike on Aircraft Carrier in Red Sea ["Friendly Fire" Incident]

Sputnik News ^ | 12/22/24

[marshmallow]

BEIRUT (Sputnik) - Earlier it was reported that a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet was shot down by friendly fire during an operation over the Red Sea, with both pilots ejecting safely.

Fighters of the Yemeni Ansar Allah (Houthi) group have repelled joint US-UK air forces attack, shooting down a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet during their attack on USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, the group’s military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said on Sunday.

“During the operation an F/A 18 jet was shot down attempting to repel the attack [on the US aircraft carrier],” Saree said on air of Almasirah TV channel.

Eight cruise missiles and 17 unmanned aerial vehicles were involved in the operation, the spokesman said. He pointed out that the majority of fighter jets left Yemen’s air space and headed for the neutral waters of the Red Sea trying to repel the attack on the carrier. USS Harry S. Truman left its positions after the strikes, Saree said.

[wildcard_redneck]

I am certain that the U.S. Navy thought that the Houthis had their own F-18 fighter when they ‘accidentally’ shot it down.

[AAABEST]

Whatever happened was a total clown car regardless.

[rdcbn1]

Most likely, the F-18 was flying in an area that was under an air attack from the Houthis.

The F-18 was shot down by systems trying to intercept the Houthi missile or drone.

[HighSierra5]

Trump has to make a deal with the Hooties that they can’t refuse.

[cuz1961]

to be fair

the ones manning those systems probably had a few key persons distracted...

.. by the pain and discomfort of their bandaged genitals ,,,

or in a hormonal replacement firestorm.

or maybe just happened cuz the mil academies are graduating confirmed communists.

[wildcard_redneck]

Either the Houthis or the U.S. Navy shot the F-18 down and both possibilities are damning indictments of U.S. military readiness to fight a war. The DoD and the Pentagon both need a thorough housecleaning. The current Princes of Pentagon must be deposed.

[ro_dreaming]

Make the area semi-radioactive glass for the next 10,000 years.

[gundog]

Yeah...given a choice between believing the Houtis, or the Biden regime, it’s s coin-toss, at this point.

[shanover]

Stop being cutesy with these sand rats! Use the fire power and pulverize them!

[Jumper]

I remember hearing how incompetent Russia was for shooting down their own aircraft. Even Biden got in on the festivities’ mocking the Russians...

I am not sure which is worst, the US destroyer shooting down to FA18s or Russian Missiles in the hands of 6th century bandits in Yemen.

Trump isn’t going to have a military capable of fighting the Chinese in 2027 as the Deep State is telling us. This woke sh*tshow under Affirmative Action SecDef Austin (I knew the man when he was LTC Bn Cdr in the 82d Abn Div, and I worked with his wife so I am qualified to make the personal observation Austin is an AA hire). Austin has destroyed the combat support and moral for a majority of the military - the shortages in recruiting is a direct reflection of white’s not joining the unappreciative DNC Dept of Defense.

Trump has to abandon Ukraine because of the problems with Biden’s crew and the EU allies are not actually Trump’s allies.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Stop being cutesy with these sand rats! Use the fire power and pulverize them!

Like Afghanistan, Yemen comes pre-bombed. From 2014 to 2022, the Saudis delivered over 10,000 missiles and bombs to the Houthis.

[The Great RJ]

I don’t know what would be more damning for the Pentagon and the US Navy, an F-18 downed by “ friendly fire” due to incompetence or being shot down by a bunch of rag tag militants. Time to clean house in the military and get rid of the DEI officers and give the Houthis a B-52 carpet bombing.

[marktwain]

One of the rules of combat. Friendly fire isn’t.

[doc maverick]

I think the Houthis shot it down and our current regime is lying because they don’t want a full blown war with them and Iran. F’ing pussyfooting by our current regime is disgusting. We’d lose!
It’s time to swear Trump in TODAY before all hell breaks loose with Taiwan &China, the middle east, Russia and stop any terrorists in the US with plans to attack on Christmas or the inauguration. We have frickin’ drones that need to be dealt with too.
Jan 20 is TOO FAR AWAY.

[skepsel]

USS Gettysburg, CG-64, is a cruiser.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Why have the Houthis been having their way with the US four 4 years?

[NorseViking]

The flight profile of the F-18 is not similar to a drone, cruise, let alone ballistic missile.
Friendly fire by panicking operator can’t be excluded, as the USN lack experience of operations in the contested environment, but I’d say that before we have more information Houthi version is more plausible.

[delta7]

In case you haven’t heard, the sandal wearing Houthis have to date shot down 6 or 7 of our very expensive drones over the past few years.

[Texan4Life]

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in ‘friendly fire’ incident

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2024/12/22/two-us-navy-pilots-shot-down-over-red-sea-in-friendly-fire-incident/

Here’s How Much An F-18 Super Hornet Jet Actually Costs To Build

https://www.slashgear.com/1689259/f-18-super-hornet-fighter-jet-price/