Since the Red Sea Crisis erupted in October 2023, the rebels in northern Yemen have been targeting merchant shipping passing through the narrow Red Sea with drones . They have also launched ballistic missiles at Israel . This has triggered military responses - including air raids - from the United States , the United Kingdom , and Israel. While not a complete list (F-15s and Harriers are two fighter jets not to make the list), here are five types of combat aircraft that have been used in the region. 1 B-2 Spirit 21 B-2 Spirits have been built Operator: United States Mission: Dropping MOP bunker-busters Number lost: None The largest and most eye-catching combat aircraft used in the conflict so far is the B-2 Spirit . These were used in October 2024 to hit underground targets . The raid marked the first time in seven years that the B-2 had been used in combat. The weapons were Massive Ordinance Penetrators designed to dig out and destroy deeply buried facilities (like Iran's nuclear facilities). While the B-1 Lancer and the B-52 Stratofortress also have the heft to carry these weapons, it is believed that the B-2 Spirit is currently the only type that does. Only the United States Air Force's strategic bombers have the heft needed to carry the massive 30,000 lbs MOP. 2 MQ-9 Reaper 300+ MQ-9 Reapers have been built Operator: United States Mission: ISR (possibly firing Hellfire missiles) Number lost: Potentially dozens The US appears to be regularly using MQ-9 Reapers over Yemen. These (and their Predator predecessors) became iconic during the War on Terror as they fired their Hellfire missiles to take out wanted militants in hot spots around the world. However, Iran and perhaps other state actors have supplied the Houthis with air defense, and the Reapers are incredibly vulnerable in this threat environment. It appears the Houthis have been successful at shooting down dozens of MQ-9 Reapers over recent years (including many in 2024). On the one hand, the US can relax about losing these drones as it doesn't need to worry about technology falling into the wrong hands (that happened years ago for the Reaper). However, at $30 million each, these have a third of the fly-away cost of the F-35 and are far too expensive to be considered expendable drones. The uncrewed aerial vehicle offers unmatched capabilities in combat and ISR operations. 3 Typhoon Eurofighter Around 600 Eurofighters have been built Operator: United Kingdom Mission: Striking targets (possibly also shooting down drones) Number lost: None The Royal Air Force has participated in strikes on the Houthis using Typhoon multirole fighters based in the RAF Akrotiri Air Force Base in Cyprus. Typhoons have carried out raids on multiple occasions; in February 2024, the UK Government stated , " February, Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by Voyager tankers, joined US forces in further deliberate strikes against Houthi locations in Yemen ." The Typhoon was developed by the British, Germans, and Italians and is the primary tactical fighter aircraft of the RAF (at least until the RAF has F-35Bs in large enough numbers). It is a very capable jet, and in November, they were seen escorting USAF B-52s on patrols over the Arabian Peninsula. RAF Typhoons have escorted American B-52 bombers in a mission over the Middle East to deter Iran. 4 F/A-18 Super Hornet Over 630 Super Hornets have been built Operator: United States Mission: Striking Houthi targets, intercepting Houthi drones Number lost: None The F/A-18 Super Hornet is the primary fighter jet of the US Navy (although it is gradually purchasing more F-35Cs). These have been at the forefront of strikes on the Houthis and have shot down numerous drones fired at vessels passing through the strait. Super Hornets have been launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), which the Houthis repeatedly claimed to have struck and sunk, only for it to eventually return to its home port without a scratch. The EA-18G Growler also took out a rare Houthi Mi-24 helicopter. It is unclear if the Marine Corps has been using its older F/A-18 Hornets in the conflict, but, according to The War Zone , it has been using its aging AV-8B II Harrier jump jets (the nature of the conflict doesn't require the most advanced fighters). The Marines are set to retire the last of their Harriers over the coming years as more F-35Bs enter service, so this could prove to be one of the Harrier's last hurrahs. After a historic deployment and multiple false claimed of being struck by the Houthis, the Ike has safely returned to her home port. 5 F-35 Lightning II Over 1,070 F-35s have been built Operator: Israel, United States, United Kingdom (unclear if UK has used them) Mission: Striking Houthi targets (possibly intercepting drones) Number lost: None The conflict in the Red Sea may have seen all three variants of the F-35 used to strike the Houthis. The Israelis have carried out long-range strikes using the F-35I Adir (the Israeli version of the F-35A) to strike targets (Israel appears to have also used F-15s in the strikes). The Israelis also used the F-35I Adir to spearhead strikes on Iran where, among other things, they are reported to have destroyed all of Iran's Russian-supplied S-300 SAMs in a single night with no losses . Around 100 Israeli jets were used in the Iranian strike (including F-16s and F-15s). Additionally, the US Marine Corps became the first to use the new F-35C (carrier variant) in combat , striking the Houthis (the US Marines had previously been the first to use the F-35B in combat in 2016 in Afghanistan). It is unclear if the F-35B has been used in the conflict—however, it is in service with both the Marines and the RAF/Royal Navy, and it is possible either or both of them have used it.
Golden Visa: US interest soars after Trump’s election – Looking for Greece, Portugal and SpainGophers football players are preparing to play Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Friday, but three key pieces peered beyond the blinders to shore up their commitment to Minnesota on Monday. Quarterback Max Brosmer and offensive lineman Quinn Carroll — two sixth-year seniors — said they will play in the Gophers’ to-be-determined bowl game, bucking a growing trend of players skipping postseason games to prepare for shots in the NFL. ADVERTISEMENT Brosmer, a transfer from FCS-level New Hampshire, said he will “definitely” suit up. “It’s another opportunity for us to play as a team,” said Brosmer, who threw for 2,426 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 games this season. “It’s a compilation of what you have worked on all season.” Carroll said he respects higher-level prospects who might opt out and protect their draft stock, but he wants to get back to a “standard” of players not skipping the games. “My goal ever since I came here was to be the leader, be the standard all the time, and I don’t want it to become a standard that we don’t play in the bowl game if we have NFL aspirations,” said Carroll, who has played three seasons at Minnesota after three years at Notre Dame. “Obviously it’s different for guys who are maybe touted a little bit higher or think it will be better off for them to start working on the next step, whether that is combine training or what have you. But that is one opportunity that I’m blessed with to play with the guys and I’m going to take full advantage of it.” Left tackle Aireontae Ersery is a prime candidate of a Gophers player who might want to safeguard a higher draft stock and limit injury exposure by sitting out the bowl game. The possible first- or second-round pick has not said what he might do. For example, former U center, John Michael Schmitz opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl in 2022; he was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Gophers fifth-year defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding said he will return to Minnesota for 2025, instead of trying his luck in the NFL. “Coming back next year is definitely going to be the best for me and being able to maximize all my opportunities and exhaust eligibility,” Logan-Redding said. Logan-Redding said he talked with fellow D-lineman Deven Eastern, who has one more year remaining, about pairing up in 2025. ADVERTISEMENT “We talk a lot about it,” Logan-Redding said. “... We are excited for it, honestly. Not only continuing to build the D-line, but just continuing to build on the experience that we already have. We’ve seen the amount of destruction that we can create when we are focused. Me, Dev and, of course, (Anthony Smith). He would be pissed if I didn’t shout him out.” Smith, who has two more years of eligibility, has been one of the U’s best players in the last month. He has 23 total pressures and five sacks, including one sack in each of the last three weeks. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Belying expectations: Five tech letdowns of 2024
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Trump transition says Cabinet picks, appointees were targeted by bomb threats, swatting attacks
