A U.S. F-35 stealth fighter had to take evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit by Houthi surface-to-air (SAM) missiles, a U.S. official told The War Zone.
“They got close enough that the [F-35] had to maneuver,” the official said.
The comments partially confirm earlier reporting by The New York Times about what transpired during the U.S. campaign against the Houthis, known as Operation Rough Rider, that was launched March 15.
“In those first 30 days, the Houthis shot down seven American MQ-9 drones (around $30 million each), hampering Central Command’s ability to track and strike the militant group,” the publication reported on Monday. “Several American F-16s and an F-35 fighter jet were nearly struck by Houthi air defenses, making real the possibility of American casualties, multiple U.S. officials said.”
The U.S. official we spoke with could not confirm that the F-16s came under fire.
“There is no indication that F-16s were targeted or anything got close to them during Operation Rough Rider, where they had to maneuver,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. “That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”
The exact date of the incident was not provided. Also unclear is whether the F-35 in question was an Air Force variant or one flown by the Navy or Marines. While F-35As from Hill Air Force Base arrived in the Middle East in March, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which is in the region, operates F-35C variants.
What SAM system did the Houthis use to target the F-35?:
How did the Houthis do It?:
twz.com