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In the embattled skies of Yemen, Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for shooting down an MQ-9 Reaper drone, a symbol of U.S. military might, further complicating the already volatile Middle East situation.
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Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that rebels shot down the Reaper on Thursday with a surface-to-air missile.
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He described the drone as “carrying out hostile actions” in Yemen’s Marib province, which remains held by allies of Yemen’s exiled, internationally recognized government.
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The downing of the Reaper drone, priced at approximately $30 million and capable of cruising at 50,000 feet for up to 24 hours, marks yet another sophisticated piece of U.S. technology felled by the Iran-backed insurgents.
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This is not an isolated incident; since 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, at least five other U.S. drones have been lost to rebel fire.
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The U.S. military did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press over the Houthi claim.
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The rebels have made claims about attacks that turned out later not to be true, they have a history of shooting down U.S. drones and have been armed by their main benefactor, Iran, with weapons capable of high-altitude attack.
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This reticence is not unusual given the complex nature of the conflict in Yemen and the broader regional implications, particularly the ripple effects of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which has seen a staggering human toll, with more than 34,000 Palestinian casualties.
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The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
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Their demands are unequivocal: they seek an end to the war in Gaza.
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The U.S. Maritime Administration corroborates these aggressive moves, which have noticeably decreased following a U.S.-led airstrike campaign targeting the rebels in Yemen.
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Despite this, the threats posed by the Houthis continue to loom over the crucial maritime routes, evidenced by the subdued shipping activity through these regions.
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The Houthis later released footage they claimed showed the surface-to-air-missile being launched at night, along with night-vision footage of the missile hitting the drone.
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The Houthis later released footage they claimed showed the surface-to-air-missile being launched at night, along with night-vision footage of the missile hitting the drone.
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A man, whose voice had been digitally altered to apparently prevent identification, chanted the Houthi slogan: “God is the greatest; death to America; death to Israel; curse the Jews; victory to Islam.”
Relevant articles:
– Houthi Blow To USA: Yemeni Rebels Destroy American MQ-9 Reaper Drone In New Attack , The Times of India, 05/17/2024
– Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim shooting down another US MQ-9 Predator drone, ABC News, 05/17/2024
– Israel-Gaza war: Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to shoot down another US MQ-9 Predator drone as footage shows wreckage, South China Morning Post, 05/17/2024
– Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim shooting down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone as footage shows wreckage, Yahoo News Australia, 05/17/2024