Houthi Rebels Reportedly Take Down A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone In Yemen
Houthi rebels in Yemen reportedly shot down an aircraft early Friday, which bystanders described as an American drone, according to videos circulating online.
The footage showed what appeared to be a flaming object descending from the sky, eventually crashing in a fiery field in Yemen’s al-Jawf province.
The U.S. military acknowledged the incident, stating that it is investigating but has not provided additional details on the type of aircraft involved.
The low-quality video captured during the night did not clearly show the specific model of the aircraft.
However, the Houthis have previously used surface-to-air missiles, such as the Iranian-made 358 missile, capable of targeting drones and other aircraft.
Iran denies supplying weaponry to the Houthis, although United Nations officials have reported evidence of Iranian arms reaching the rebels despite a U.N. arms embargo.
Although the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the reported downing, it is not uncommon for the group to take hours or days to confirm involvement in such incidents.
The Houthis have previously downed U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones in Yemen on multiple occasions, including in 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2024.
These drones, which cost approximately $30 million each, can fly up to 50,000 feet and operate for up to 24 hours.
The U.S. military and the CIA have deployed Reaper drones in Yemen for years.
In recent months, the Houthis have escalated attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, targeting over 90 merchant ships with missiles and drones since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza in October 2023.
The rebels have reportedly seized one ship and sunk two others, resulting in the deaths of four sailors.
A U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea has intercepted some of these attacks, though other missiles and drones have missed their intended targets, which have included Western military vessels.
The Houthis claim they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom in response to Israel’s operations in Gaza.
However, many of the ships targeted by the Houthis reportedly have no connection to the ongoing conflict, with some even being bound for Iran. The pace of Houthi sea attacks has fluctuated in recent months.
In response to the Houthi threat, the U.S. military deployed B-2 stealth bombers in October to strike Houthi-controlled bunkers used for weapon storage.
This action highlights the persistent strife in the Red Sea area, where Houthis persist in making their influence felt in a vital sea lane.
