News - World: The US Central Command admitted on Sunday to the downing of an F-18 fighter jet in the Red Sea, with one pilot reportedly injured. The US military claimed the incident was caused by "friendly fire" due to an alleged mistake.

According to a statement by the US Central Command, the cruiser USS Gettysburg, part of the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, mistakenly fired on and downed an F/A-18 fighter that had taken off from the carrier. The statement added that both pilots ejected safely, with one sustaining minor injuries.

However, Brandon Weichert, a national security analyst for The National Interest magazine, expressed skepticism regarding the US military's account of the incident. He stated, "We’ve reached a new low as a so-called superpower when the 'friendly fire' explanation becomes the most plausible excuse for the possibility that the Houthis may have shot down one of our jets."

Similarly, the Associated Press raised doubts about how the USS Gettysburg could mistake an F/A-18 for a hostile aircraft or missile, given that vessels within a carrier strike group maintain constant radar and wireless communication connectivity.

As of now, the Yemeni Armed Forces have not issued any statements regarding the reported downing of the American fighter jet, which had reportedly participated in aggression against Yemen late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.

Significantly, Yemeni Air Defenses have previously shot down 12 of the most advanced US drones, including MQ-9 Reaper drones.