US Navy Fighter Jet Shot Down over Red Sea in Friendly Fire Incident

The two pilots ejected safely from the aircraft and were recovered, with one sustaining minor injuries, the military said in a statement. An investigation into the incident is underway, accordng to NYTimes.

The jet, deployed from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, was mistakenly targeted by the USS Gettysburg, a guided-missile cruiser in the same carrier strike group, according to Central Command.

The Harry S. Truman strike group has been operating in the region since December 15, covering areas that include Yemen and the surrounding waterways, though the exact location of the incident was not disclosed.

The Red Sea has seen increased military activity as the Yemeni military, has launched attacks on Israeli ships, as part of a campaign supporting Palestinians in Gaza.

In response to Yemeni military activities in support of Palestine, US forces have carried out airstrikes targeting the country's infrastructure. On Saturday, Central Command reported hitting a missile storage facility and a command center in Sana.

The US military also claimed that intercepted multiple Yemeni unmanned aerial vehicles and anti-ship cruise missiles over the Red Sea, operations that included the use of F/A-18 fighter jets.

The incident marks a rare and serious error during heightened US military activity in the region.