Houthi Militant Claims Attack US Carrier And Drop F/A Fighter Jet 18 Hornet

Illustration of the FA 18 Hornet fighter jet takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry Smen (CVN-75). (Wikimedia Commons/US Navy/3rd Class bag LaVende)

JAKARTA - The Yemen-based Houthi militant group claimed to have attacked US aircraft carriers and succeeded in dropping one of the F/A 18 Hornet fighter jets, in a statement reversing the claim, was an 'mishoor' incident.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said his group managed to thwart attacks by the United States and Britain.

"Our armed forces have succeeded in preventing US and UK attacks on our country by attacking the Serang Group of Carrier USS Harry S.men and several destroyers that escorted it along with the launch of aggressive attacks on our country last night (Saturday)," he told the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah television channel, launching TASS December 23.

According to a Houthi spokesman, attacks on US ships were carried out using "eight cruise missiles and 17 unmanned aircraft."

He claims the operation resulted in the crash of the F/A-18 fighter, while US destroyers tried to fend off the Houthis attack.

During the Houthi attack, "most enemy warplanes left Yemen's airspace" to defend aircraft carriers in international waters of the Red Sea, Sarea said, adding that after the attack, US carriers withdrew to the northern part of the Red Sea.

Earlier, the United States said one of its naval fighters crashed in the Red Sea in the early hours of Sunday, in a case that appeared to be 'accidentally shot', but two of its crew managed to save themselves, as quoted by VOA.

The United States Central Command (US CENTCOM) said on Saturday night the two US pilots were found safe, but an initial investigation showed that one of the crew had suffered minor injuries.

This incident, "not due to enemy fire and a full investigation is underway," CENTCOM said.

CENTCOM said the guided missile cruiser USS totaling (CG-64) "fligately opened fire and hit the F/A-18 fighter" flown by two Navy pilots from the USS Harry S way.

On Saturday, the United States said it had attacked a number of targets including missile storage facilities in the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa, hours after the Houthi rebel missile injured a number of people in Israel's trade center, Tel Aviv.

US troops also shot down several Houthi attack drones and anti-ship cruise missiles over the Red Sea, CENTCOM said.

"The operation involved US Air Force and Navy fleets, including the F/A-18," CENTCOM said.