Situation in the Red Sea (Houthi Thread)

[TruckDriver9]

USS Harry Truman CSG looks like it is in the middle of the Red Sea now, approaching Houthi ranges. There's also predictable threats from pro-Houthi types:

The CSG already went to work on the Houthis.

ENTCOM Conducts Airstrikes Against Iran-Backed Houthi Missile Storage and Command/Control Facilities in Yemen
TAMPA, Fla. - U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted precision airstrikes against a missile storage facility and a command-and-control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthis within Houthi-controlled territory in Sana'a, Yemen, on Dec. 21 Yemen time. CENTCOM forces conducted the deliberate strikes to disrupt and degrade Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. During the operation, CENTCOM forces also shot down multiple Houthi one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) over the Red Sea. The operation involved U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets, including F/A-18s.
The strike reflects CENTCOM's ongoing commitment to protect U.S. and coalition personnel, regional partners, and international shipping.

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Looks like our wonderful military, full of DEI hires, shot down our own fighter jets.

Sh#t happens, I think Russia lost more planes to their own air defense systems than to ukraine.
Anyway, both crewmembers safely ejected and were recovered by the Navy.

Two U.S. Navy aviators are safe after their two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet was shot down by an American ship by mistake, according to a late Saturday statement from U.S. Central Command.
The Super Hornet, assigned to aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), was flying over the Red Sea when guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG-64) fired upon it, according to the CENTCOM statement. “Both pilots were safely recovered. Initial assessments indicate that one of the crew members sustained minor injuries,” reads a statement from CENTCOM.
“This incident was not the result of hostile fire, and a full investigation is underway.”
A Navy official told USNI News the incident occurred around 3 a.m. local time on Sunday or about 7 p.m. East Coast time on Saturday. The Super Hornet was assigned to Carrier Air Wing One, and embarked aboard Truman, an official told USNI News. While the CENTCOM statement didn’t specify the squadron, the only two-seat F/A-18F squadron embarked aboard Truman are the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

 

[Cooper]

Houthis are claiming the downing of the F-18.

 

[It_Is_My_Time]

 

[Pointy Elbows]

The Truman got into range of longest Houthi weapons. Truman launched attack strikes against presumably Houthi missile command and storage. Upon return the F-18 was either friendly fired or hit by Houthi SAMs. Truman still has the southern half of the Red Sea, the straits, then the Gulf of Aden if she wants to reassert US freedom of navigation. We're at an interesting decision point. First contact has success, with notable loss, but Truman is not decisively engaged. Truman can return north (like the Eisenhower did) - an embarrassment. Or she can continue southward - high risk, especially if Houthis have managed to get better systems from various backers.

 

[TruckDriver9]

French carrier strike group spotted in the Suez Canal sailing toward the Red Sea. Their purpose is unknown at the moment: could be reinforcements for the EU operation Aspides, could be an offensive against the Houthis, or they're just on their way to exercise in the Indo-Pacific.

 

[It_Is_My_Time]

I wonder how many billions have been wasted on fighting the Houthi's and they continue to attack back. We can't afford insurance, this country has gone to hell, but we will continue to waste our resources in endless war and continue to lose.

 

[TruckDriver9]

Israel is bombing Yemen.