Houthi claimed responsibility for downing U.S. F-18 jet, but the cause remains disputed
In what appears to be a significant escalation in Yemen‘s ongoing conflict, the Houthi rebels have assertively claimed responsibility for shooting down a U.S. F-18 jet. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, saw the jet plunge into the Red Sea near the USS Gettysburg, an American warship. However, the U.S. and its allies have so far refuted the Houthi’s accusations.
The Qatar-owned news channel Al Jazeera was among the first to report the incident, featuring footage showing the aftermath of the apparent shootdown. The jet, according to the Houthis, was targeted in an operation they dubbed "Operation Den of Vultures." However, the U.S. Navy maintains that the jet’s crash was the result of a mechanical failure, with no hostile action involved.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a top Houthi official, Brig. Gen. Yehya Saree, later told the Associated Press that they had used a new weapon, which they called "Quds-2," to bring down the jet. The claim, however, has been met with skepticism, given the lack of clear evidence to support it.
This latest incident has drawn sharp reactions from the international community. The U.S. Navy, which has been providing support to the Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthi rebels, has expressed concern over the rebels’ growing capability. Meanwhile, the Houthi’s have lauded their claimed victory as a significant achievement, boosting their morale and propaganda.
In the Yemen conflict, which has been raging for over six years, the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, are fighting a Saudi-led coalition, supported by the U.S., among others. The fighting has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, with millions at risk of starvation and disease.
