In another sign of growing U.S. military failures in the Red Sea, the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet and a tow tractor while stationed off Yemen’s coast, the U.S. Navy confirmed on Monday.

The incident resulted in a minor injury to one sailor and raised serious questions about the vulnerability of American forces operating in the region.

According to the U.S. Navy’s official statement, the loss occurred on April 28 as the aircraft was being moved aboard the carrier. The crew allegedly lost control of the fighter during towing operations, causing it to fall overboard into the Red Sea. However, given the current intensity of Red Sea confrontations and the history of Yemeni resistance strikes against U.S. warships, many analysts are questioning the credibility of the U.S. version of events.

Observers suggest that the F/A-18E Super Hornet may have been downed by Yemeni defense operations rather than simply being lost in an accident, pointing to the Truman's repeated targeting by the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) over the past year.

This latest incident comes just days after the YAF, in a bold and coordinated operation, struck the USS Truman and its escort vessels with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs, forcing the American fleet to retreat from Yemeni waters.

The USS Truman has been a primary target of Yemen’s resistance since Yemen declared itself a full support front for Gaza against the U.S.-Israeli aggression. In response to relentless American and Israeli attacks on Yemeni civilians and infrastructure, the Ansar Allah movement and the YAF have successfully launched multiple operations against U.S. military assets in the Red Sea.

The timing of the Super Hornet loss has further fueled speculation that the U.S. Navy is concealing battlefield losses to maintain the illusion of dominance, even as its forces face increasing setbacks at the hands of Yemen’s determined resistance.

This is not the first mishap involving the Truman. Earlier this year, the carrier suffered damage following a collision with a merchant vessel near Egypt, further highlighting operational vulnerabilities.

As Yemen’s armed forces continue to target U.S. and Israeli occupation forces in solidarity with Gaza, the balance of power in the Red Sea appears to be shifting. Yemen’s resilience and growing military capabilities are sending a clear message: foreign aggression and occupation will be met with escalating resistance and heavy costs. (ILKHA)