Yemen's Houthis Reportedly Shoot Down Another Expensive US Reaper Drone

Increased Ballistic Missile Attacks

The Houthi rebel group in Yemen has announced their intention to increase their ballistic missile attacks against Israel. This decision comes in the wake of the killing of Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah and the recent Israeli military ground assault on Lebanon. The Shia rebel group has also been escalating its attacks on US warships in the Red Sea. On Monday, they claimed to have shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was operating over Yemen.

Shootdown Confirmed

A statement from Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea indicated that the Yemeni Armed Forces' air defenses brought down an American MQ-9 aircraft while it was conducting hostile missions in Saada Governorate's airspace. US defense officials have confirmed the shootdown to CNN. The Houthis assert that this marks the 11th US MQ-9 downed over Yemen since hostilities began last year, a figure disputed by the Pentagon.

Disputed Figures

"I can tell you that that number is not accurate," said Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. "It’s too high." Just two weeks ago, another MQ-9 was reportedly shot down. Each drone is estimated to cost around $30 million. According to the Houthi count, that's well over $300,000 in US military hardware downed over Yemen.

Previous Losses

Throughout the half-decade leading up to the Oct.7 attacks in Israel, many more Reapers were lost in connection with the prior Saudi-US-UAE coalition war against the Yemeni rebels. The Pentagon acknowledged that MQ-9 drones were shot down in November 2023 and again in February of this year.

Bombing Raids on Houthi Targets

Both the US and Israel have recently conducted bombing raids on Houthi targets in Yemen, particularly the key port of Hodeidah. Major Israeli strikes destroyed facilities there on Sunday.

Escalation of Attacks

"The Israeli enemy, with American support, launched 17 airstrikes on various civilian facilities in Hodeidah, including the port and the power station, which led to the martyrdom of five citizens and the injury of 57 as a final tally," military spokesman Sarea said on Monday. However, he promised that attacks would escalate against Israel. "The crime of aggression against Hodeidah will be met with a military escalation against this criminal enemy in the coming period," he stated. Israel's anti-air systems have been very busy repelling projectiles from the directions of Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen recently.

Bottom Line

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, with the Houthi rebel group in Yemen intensifying their attacks against Israel and US warships. The reported shootdown of another expensive US drone is an indication of the increasing hostilities. It is a complex situation with high stakes for all involved parties. What are your thoughts on this escalating conflict? Share this article with your friends and discuss. Remember, you can sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.