Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down an MQ-9 Reaper drone, according to footage that surfaced online showing what appears to be the fiery wreckage of the U.S. military aircraft.
The incident purportedly took place in the Marib province, a contested area still controlled by allies of Yemen’s exiled and internationally recognized government.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, announced that the drone was targeted on Thursday night with a surface-to-air missile.
He asserted that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was engaged in “hostile actions” over Houthi-held territory.
The rebels further supported their claim by releasing video evidence that showcased the missile’s launch and the subsequent hit on the drone, coupled with night-vision footage.
The audio accompanying the footage contained chants reiterating the group’s radical slogan, which was delivered in a digitally altered voice to likely mask the identity of the speaker.
The U.S. military has yet to confirm the downing, simply stating that it was aware of the reports.
Despite occasional false claims by the Houthi faction, there is a noted history of similar incidents, with at least five U.S. drones having been lost to the rebels since 2014.
These previous losses lend a degree of credibility to the recent claims, considering the Houthis’ access to high-altitude attack weapons—supplied by Iran, their main backer.
The MQ-9 Reaper, priced at around $30 million each, is capable of operating at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and can remain airborne for up to 24 hours without refueling.
The rebels have also been active in maritime aggression, launching over 50 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, as per the U.S. Maritime Administration.
These actions, which include the seizure and sinking of vessels, have been part of an effort to coerce Israel into ending the war in Gaza—a conflict that has resulted in a significant death toll.
Early Saturday, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a ship came under attack off the coast of Yemen’s port city of Hodeida.
The captain “has confirmed sustaining slight damage after being struck by an unknown object on his port quarter,” the UKMTO said. “The vessel and crew are safe and continuing to its next port of call.”
Although Houthi assaults have waned recently due to a U.S.-led airstrike campaign against them in Yemen, the threat to shipping persists, resulting in continued caution and reduced traffic through the vital waterways of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Relevant articles:
– Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim shooting down of American drone , The Associated Press, 05/18/2024
– 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