U.S. sources report that shortly after former President Donald Trump made a public statement condemning the Houthis, the aircraft carrier USS Truman came under a coordinated assault in the Red Sea region.
The attack involved a barrage of missiles and explosive-laden drones, believed to be launched by Houthi forces operating out of Yemen.
The incident occurred while the carrier was conducting routine operations in international waters. U.S. defense officials say the ship's defense systems were activated immediately, successfully intercepting several incoming threats. However, some drones reportedly got close enough to cause minor damage to exterior equipment on the flight deck.
At the time of the attack, a fighter jet was preparing for takeoff. In the chaos, the jet veered off course and plunged into the sea. A Navy rescue helicopter quickly responded and managed to recover the pilot and navigator, both of whom were injured but are in stable condition. The jet sank and was not recovered—making it the second fighter aircraft to be lost to the sea in just one week.
