Houthi Forces Claim Credit as US Loses $67 Million Warplane in Red Sea Escalation

Executive Summary

The Yemeni Armed Forces (Ansarallah) launched a multi-pronged assault on US warships in the Red Sea, targeting the USS Harry S. Truman. Amidst this attack, the US Navy lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet, reportedly after the carrier made a hard evasive turn to avoid Houthi missile and drone fire. Although the US Navy maintains the loss was due to a towing accident aboard the Truman, the incident has intensified scrutiny over vulnerabilities in American naval operations in the increasingly volatile Red Sea theatre. Houthi forces have vowed continued attacks until US operations in Gaza and Yemen cease, while the US military struggles with rising costs and limited success against the Iran-backed group.

Analysis

The attack on the USS Truman marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Houthi forces and the US Navy in the Red Sea. Brigadier General Yahya Saree of the Yemeni Armed Forces announced that coordinated drone, missile, and naval strikes forced the Truman to withdraw, bolstering Ansarallah’s claims of a successful operation against the Americans and Israelis.

During this engagement, an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell overboard from the Truman. While the US Navy attributes the loss to an accident during towing, CNN and other sources indicate the Truman was performing aggressive evasive maneuvers to dodge incoming Houthi fire, raising questions about the official narrative. The $67 million aircraft’s loss, alongside a tow tractor, comes amidst a broader pattern of costly operational mishaps for the Truman Strike Group, which has suffered prior incidents including a collision with a merchant vessel and a friendly fire incident earlier this year.

Satellite imagery confirmed the Truman’s active deployment in the Red Sea amidst near-nightly missile and drone threats from Houthis, who have vowed to continue operations until the siege of Gaza ends. Despite over $3 billion in US airstrikes against Houthi targets, Pentagon officials concede privately that the campaign has achieved only limited results, with much of the Houthis’ underground arsenal still intact.

The Houthis’ ability to consistently threaten a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier demonstrates a strategic shift. Analysts suggest possible assistance from Iranian radar ships or indirect satellite tracking by Russian or Chinese actors, as the Houthis’ domestic radar capabilities have been heavily degraded by US strikes.

This incident exposes critical gaps in US force protection against asymmetric threats, raising questions about the survivability of American carrier groups in conflict zones such as the Red Sea, South China Sea, and beyond. As adversaries refine missile, drone, and tracking technologies, the traditional dominance of US carrier groups may face unprecedented challenges.

Sources

• Abolition Media: Ansarallah Targets US Warships, US Warplane Lost in Assault

• CNN: US Navy loses $60 million jet at sea after it fell overboard from aircraft carrier

• Newsweek: Satellite Images Show US Aircraft Carrier at War With Iran-backed Houthis

• Responsible Statecraft: F-18 rolls off US carrier as it turns to avoid Houthi fire

• Asia Times: Did Houthi missiles threaten to sink the carrier USS Truman?