Yemen's Houthi rebels have asserted that they successfully shot down an American drone, with footage circulating online showing what appears to be the wreckage of an MQ-9 Predator drone. The U.S. military has not yet confirmed the incident.
If verified, this would mark another instance of a Predator drone being downed by the Houthis as they continue their activities amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that the rebels shot down the Predator using a surface-to-air missile in Yemen's Marib province. He accused the drone of engaging in hostile actions in the region, which is currently under the control of allies of Yemen's exiled, internationally recognized government.
Online videos have surfaced showing wreckage resembling parts of the Predator drone, some of which were on fire.
The U.S. military has not provided a response to the Houthi claim. While the rebels have previously made unverified claims about attacks, they have a track record of shooting down U.S. drones and have been supplied with weapons capable of high-altitude assaults by their primary supporter, Iran.
Since the Houthi takeover of northern Yemen and Sanaa in 2014, the U.S. military has reportedly lost at least five drones to the rebels.
The MQ-9 Reaper drones, each costing around $30 million, have the capability to operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and can remain airborne for up to 24 hours before requiring a landing.
This incident occurs as the Houthis intensify attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians. The conflict began following an attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,200 casualties and the taking of 250 individuals as hostages.
According to the U.S. Maritime Administration, the Houthis have carried out more than 50 attacks on shipping, including the seizure of one vessel and the sinking of another since November.
Recent weeks have seen a decrease in Houthi attacks as the rebels face intensified airstrikes led by the U.S. in Yemen. Despite this, shipping activity through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden remains limited due to the ongoing threat posed by the Houthis.
