Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Houthi group claimed on Wednesday evening that it had targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and several accompanying warships in the Red Sea, despite the recently announced ceasefire agreement between the group and the United States, brokered by Oman.
A spokesperson for the Houthis said that “two military operations were carried out — the first targeting Israel’s Ramon Airport with two drones, and the second striking a vital target in Jaffa with a ‘Yafa’ drone.”
He added that “the naval forces and the drone air force executed a special military operation targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier Truman and several of its escort vessels in the northern Red Sea using a ballistic missile and several drones.”
The Houthis claimed that the operation thwarted an aerial attack the U.S. military was preparing against the group and resulted in the downing of an American F-18 aircraft due to what they described as confusion and panic among U.S. forces during the strike.
Earlier, CNN reported that a U.S. F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet had been lost in the Red Sea from the Harry S. Truman, marking the second such incident within a week.
According to sources cited by CNN, the exact circumstances remain unclear as an investigation is ongoing. However, the incident reportedly occurred after the Houthis opened fire on the aircraft carrier.
The sources said the aircraft experienced a failed arrest attempt while trying to land on the carrier, forcing the pilot and the weapons systems officer to eject.
The report also noted that the Houthis launched the attack on the American carrier just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with the group, mediated by Oman.
This latest incident follows the loss of another F/A-18 fighter jet in the Red Sea roughly a week earlier.
