An American drone was shot down over Yemen late Sunday by the Houthis, according to two United States defense officials. The Iran-backed rebel group claimed the successful downing of the drone. The Houthi military spokesperson stated that the air defenses of the Yemeni Armed Forces shot down an American MQ-9 aircraft while it was carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Saada Governorate.
This incident occurred following Israeli strikes on the Yemeni port cities of Ras Issa and Hodeidah in response to long-range missiles fired at Israel. The Houthis have previously claimed to have shot down another MQ-9 Reaper with a surface-to-air missile over Dhamar Governorate, although the cause of the downing remains under investigation by US defense officials.
The Pentagon has refuted the Houthis' claim of shooting down more than 10 US drones, stating that the number is inaccurate and too high. Each MQ-9 Reaper drone costs approximately $28 million, as reported by the Congressional Research Service.
This recent incident is not the first time the Houthis have successfully shot down an MQ-9 Reaper. In previous instances in November and February, US officials acknowledged the Houthis' ability to down drones. The escalating tensions in the region have raised concerns about a potential broader regional conflict, particularly as Israel intensifies its attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, another Iran-backed group that supports the Houthis.
