Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed on Tuesday to have shot down a second American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen’s southern province of Bayda. This comes merely a week after a similar incident in which the Houthis claimed they downed an MQ-9 Reaper drone over the province of Marib. The U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees American operations in the Middle East, has not yet acknowledged these claims.
According to Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the drone was brought down using a locally made surface-to-air missile. He further stated that the drone “was carrying out hostile missions” over Yemen. This latest development highlights the complexities of the ongoing Yemeni civil war and the Houthis’ capabilities to challenge U.S. military assets in the region.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft that carries a price tag of approximately $30 million each. These drones are capable of flying for up to 24 hours before requiring a landing, at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. With such advanced technology at stake, the downing of two drones in a short span raises concerns over the sophistication of the Houthi rebels’ military capabilities and their access to advanced weaponry.
The downing of the drones coincides with an increase in Houthi attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as the rebels demand an end to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. This conflict has had a significant human toll, with claims of over 35,000 Palestinians killed. Meanwhile, the Houthis have reportedly launched over 50 attacks on shipping, seized a vessel, and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. Maritime traffic in these crucial waterways has seen a decline due to these threats.
The Houthi rebels have also claimed to have fired a missile towards a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea last week. The U.S. military reported that the warship intercepted the anti-ship ballistic missile. As these incidents accumulate, they add to the already heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Yemen has been in a state of civil war since 2014, following the Houthi movement’s seizure of most of the country’s north, including the capital, Sanaa. Since then, the U.S. military has acknowledged the loss of at least five drones to the rebels. It remains to be seen how the United States will respond to these claims and what implications this will have for the regional dynamics, especially considering the Houthis’ demands and their apparent boldness in challenging naval and aerial assets.
Relevant articles:
– Yemeni army downs second US MQ-9 Reaper drone in one week , Al Mayadeen English, 05/21/2024
– backed Houthi rebels claim they shot down another US drone, SRN News, 05/21/2024
– Houthi rebels claim shooting down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone, AirForceTimes.com, 05/20/2024
– Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim they shot down another US drone, Oil City Derrick, 05/21/2024
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