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Story summary
- U.S. Air Force pilots Lt. Col. William Parks and Maj. Michael Blea faced a 15-minute struggle as Houthi militants fired surface-to-air missiles at their F-16s during a strike mission in Yemen in 2025.
- Parks described a missile narrowly missing his jet, underscoring the risks of the operation.
- The incident occurred during Operation Rough Rider, the first significant military action of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.
- As Trump considers a new operation against Iran, the Yemen episode highlights the challenges of sustained military engagements.
