The U.S. military says two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military said two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea on Sunday in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the latest threat to U.S. forces in more than a year. Serious incident involving Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Both pilots were rescued after ejecting from the stricken aircraft, one of whom suffered minor injuries. But the downing highlighted how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become due to continued attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, even as the U.S. and European military coalition patrol the area.

The U.S. military carried out air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, but U.S. Central Command did not elaborate on their mission and did not immediately respond to questions from the Associated Press.

Central Command said the downed F/A-18 aircraft had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. On December 15, Central Command acknowledged that the Truman had entered the Middle East, but did not specify that the aircraft carrier and its battle group were in the Red Sea.

“The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly opened fire on and hit an F/A-18,” Central Command said in a statement.

According to the military’s description, the downed aircraft was a two-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter belonging to the “Red Ripper” Strike Fighter Squadron 11 at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia.

It is unclear how the Gettysburg mistook the F/A-18 for an enemy aircraft or missile, especially since the ships in the battle group were still in contact via radar and radio communications.

However, Central Command said warships and aircraft had earlier shot down multiple Houthi drones and an anti-ship cruise missile launched by the rebels. In the past, enemy fire from the Houthis has given sailors only seconds to make a decision.

After the arrival of the Truman, the United States stepped up air strikes against the Houthis and launched missiles into the Red Sea and surrounding areas. However, the presence of a group of U.S. warships could trigger a new wave of insurgent attacks, as was seen on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier earlier this year. The deployment marks what the Navy calls the most intense fighting since World War II.

On Saturday night and early Sunday, U.S. warplanes carried out airstrikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa, which the Houthis have controlled since 2014. and “command and control facilities.”

Houthi-controlled media reported attacks in areas around Sanaa and the port city of Hodeidah, but did not provide any information on casualties or damage. In Sana’a, the attacks appeared to be particularly targeting hillsides known to be home to military installations. The Houthis deny that the plane was shot down in the Red Sea.

The Houthis have used missiles and drones since the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip broke out in October 2023 after Hamas launched a raid on Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. About 100 merchant ships were targeted.

Local health officials say Israel’s brutal offensive in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians. The statistics do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The Houthis seized one ship, sank two vessels and killed four sailors in a battle. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by the U.S.- and European-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, including by Western warships.

The rebels insist they target ships with links to Israel, the United States or Britain in an effort to pressure Israel to end Hamas’ operations in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked had little to do with the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

The Houthis have also increasingly targeted the Israeli mainland with drones and missiles, leading Israel to carry out retaliatory air strikes.