The skies above the Red Sea have become increasingly volatile, and Saturday’s “friendly fire incident” involving a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet underscores just how dangerous—and complex—the situation has become. Two Navy pilots, part of the “Red Rippers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 11, were forced to eject from their jet after it was mistakenly shot down by the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg. Thankfully, both pilots survived, with only one suffering minor injuries.

But let’s not gloss over how serious this is. The Gettysburg is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, and these assets are supposed to operate with seamless coordination. Navy ships and aircraft share advanced radar and communication systems designed specifically to prevent incidents like this. So how, in one of the most technologically sophisticated naval battle groups on Earth, does a cruiser end up firing on one of its own fighter jets?

We don’t have answers yet, and it’s likely the Navy is scrambling behind closed doors to figure out what went wrong. Was it human error? A radar misidentification? A glitch in the system? Whatever the cause, incidents like this can shake morale, create uncertainty in the chain of command, and embolden adversaries watching for signs of weakness.

This accident comes against the backdrop of escalating attacks in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis have been launching drone strikes, anti-ship missiles, and other attacks against commercial vessels and military assets in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

After losing the election the Biden administration has authorized strikes within Russia. Armed terrorists in toppling Assad. Bombed Syria. Now, the US is bombing Yemen. All without congressional approval. There is no President but the wars just keep going. pic.twitter.com/L2CbBH44et

— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) December 22, 2024

For months, the U.S. and European naval presence has been aimed at deterring these attacks, but deterrence seems to be losing its edge. The Houthis are becoming more brazen, not less. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, over 100 commercial vessels have been targeted, and U.S. naval assets have had to shoot down multiple drones and missiles aimed at both merchant and military ships.

On Saturday, in a clear show of force, U.S. Central Command launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, including a “missile storage facility” and a “command-and-control facility.” The strikes sent a strong message, but it’s unclear if that message will resonate with an enemy increasingly confident in its ability to disrupt global trade routes and challenge Western naval power.

The Red Sea isn’t just a waterway—it’s a lifeline for global commerce, with nearly 10% of global trade passing through its narrow corridors. Disruptions here aren’t just military headaches—they’re economic earthquakes.

Iran’s fingerprints are all over these Houthi operations. The weapons, the intelligence, the logistical support—it’s all part of Tehran’s strategy to extend its influence and keep the West bogged down in regional conflicts.

The question now is how the U.S. plans to respond. Saturday’s airstrikes show that the Biden administration isn’t afraid to flex military muscle, but will it be enough to deter future attacks? Or will we see this pattern continue—provocation, retaliation, escalation?

Back to the friendly fire incident—it’s not just an embarrassing blunder; it’s a wake-up call. Mistakes like this can cost lives, damage alliances, and undermine the credibility of U.S. military operations in a theater already brimming with geopolitical tension.

For now, the Navy will investigate, reports will be filed, and talking points will be refined. But the men and women aboard the USS Harry S. Truman and the USS Gettysburg know better than anyone that they’re operating in an environment where split-second decisions can mean the difference between life and death.