DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed early Sunday they shot down another American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the country, marking potentially the latest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance aircraft. The U.S. responded with airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory, the rebels said.
The U.S. military told The Associated Press it was aware of the claim but has “received no reports” of American military drones being downed over Yemen.
The rebels offered no pictures or video to support the claim as they have in the past, though such material can appear in propaganda footage days later.
However, the Houthis have repeatedly downed General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones in the years since they seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Those attacks have exponentially increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war and the Houthis launched their campaign targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree made the claim in a prerecorded video message. He said the Houthis shot down the drone over Yemen’s Marib province, a long-contested area home to key oil and gas fields that’s been held by allies of a Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels since 2015.
Saree offered no details on how the rebels down the aircraft. However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in seaborne shipments heading to Yemen despite a United Nations arms embargo.
The Houthis “continue to perform their jihadist duties in victory for the oppressed Palestinian people and in defense of dear Yemen,” Saree said.
Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The aircraft have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years.
After the claim, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reported multiple U.S.-led airstrikes near the city of Ibb. The U.S. military did not immediately acknowledge the strikes, but the Americans have been striking Houthi targets intensely since January.
The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels as well.
The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
Those attacks include the barrage that struck the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. Salvagers last week abandoned an initial effort to tow away the burning oil tanker, leaving the Sounion stranded and its 1 million barrels of oil at risk of spilling.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down a US MQ-9 drone in the war-torn country. The incident, which took place on Sunday, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting in Yemen since 2015.
The MQ-9 drone, also known as a Reaper, is a remotely piloted aircraft used by the US military for surveillance and airstrikes. The drone was reportedly shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by Houthi rebels in the northern province of Al-Jawf.
The Houthi rebels have been engaged in a bitter conflict with the Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized government of Yemen. The rebels, who are aligned with Iran, have been fighting to overthrow the government and gain control of the country.
The shooting down of the MQ-9 drone is just the latest in a series of attacks by the Houthi rebels against US and Saudi coalition forces. In recent months, the rebels have launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting airports, oil facilities, and military installations.
The US has condemned the shooting down of the drone, calling it a “provocative act” that threatens regional security. The Pentagon has vowed to investigate the incident and take appropriate action in response.
The conflict in Yemen has caused immense suffering for the civilian population, with thousands killed and millions displaced from their homes. The ongoing violence has also created a humanitarian crisis, with widespread food shortages and lack of access to basic services.
As the conflict in Yemen continues to escalate, it is clear that a political solution is needed to end the violence and bring stability to the region. The international community must work together to support efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
