
The US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and ships assigned to its carrier strike group in the Red Sea. Photo courtesy of US Navy
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Sunday that Yemen's armed forces had successfully countered the assault, which coincided with the onset of hostilities on Saturday evening.
Saree said the operation involved eight cruise missiles and 17 drones, causing "substantial impacts" on enemy forces. He added that an F-18 fighter jet was shot down as it attempted to intercept Yemeni missiles and drones, prompting most hostile aircraft to withdraw from Yemeni airspace to international waters over the Red Sea.
The USS Harry S. Truman reportedly retreated from its southern Red Sea position to the north after being targeted by Yemeni missile forces, naval units, and drones, Saree said.
He also issued a warning to Israel and the United States to halt what he called aggression against Yemen, pledging that Yemen's armed forces would continue to defend the country while supporting the Palestinian people until the Gaza war ends and the siege is lifted.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Sunday that an American F-18 fighter jet had been downed over the Red Sea, attributing the incident to "friendly fire" and saying the pilots had survived.
Earlier, CENTCOM said US forces had launched strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen on Saturday evening.
Last month, the Houthis carried out separate attacks on US naval forces, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and two destroyers, in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
The Pentagon confirmed those incidents, saying US vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait were targeted with at least eight drones, five ballistic missiles, and three cruise missiles.
The Houthis claim their strikes on US vessels and others linked to Israel are acts of defence for Yemen and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.
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