Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on Tuesday that they shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone, even as the United States continued its relentless airstrike campaign targeting the group in the region.
The reported shootdown took place over Yemen’s contested Marib governorate, an area of strategic importance due to its oil and gas fields, which remain under the control of forces aligned with Yemen’s exiled central government. The Houthis released footage on social media showing flames rising in the night sky, accompanied by a Yemeni man claiming that a drone had been shot down. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, confirmed the incident in a prerecorded video, claiming that the drone was downed using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.
The MQ-9 Reaper is a high-tech American drone, which costs around $30 million and has been used for surveillance and combat operations by both the US military and the CIA over the Middle East. The Reaper is capable of flying at altitudes of over 40,000 feet and can remain airborne for up to 30 hours. The Houthis have previously claimed responsibility for shooting down 20 of these drones over Yemen, with 16 of them reportedly downed during the rebels’ campaign over the Israel-Hamas war. The US military has not confirmed the total number of drones lost.
The United States military acknowledged the reports of the downing of a Reaper drone but declined to provide further details. The Houthis possess various surface-to-air missile systems, including the Iranian-made 358 missile, which is capable of bringing down high-flying aircraft. Iran, however, has denied arming the rebels, despite the discovery of Tehran-manufactured weaponry in Yemen and in shipments intercepted by international authorities.
The Houthis’ latest action comes amid an ongoing escalation of US airstrikes targeting the group. These strikes, which began on March 15, have been part of an extensive American military operation that now seems more aggressive than previous operations under former President Joe Biden. The strikes are not limited to launch sites but also target high-ranking Houthi officials and have included bombing campaigns in urban areas. According to reports, at least 61 people have been killed in the strikes, including civilians.
US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to both the Houthis and their main sponsor, Iran, stating that the group’s military capabilities, which threaten regional shipping lanes, are being rapidly destroyed. He reiterated his commitment to continue the strikes, stating on social media, “We hit them every day and night harder and harder. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to the freedom of navigation.”
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Trump further addressed the Houthis directly, saying, “The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at US ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.”
The intense US bombings come after the Houthis made threats to target Israeli ships in retaliation for Israel’s blockade on aid entering Gaza. The rebels have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since November 2023, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. Though they have also launched attacks on American warships, none have been successfully hit thus far.
The US campaign against the Houthis began after the rebels threatened to escalate attacks against Israeli vessels. The Houthis have also been increasingly active in raising their profile on the global stage, taking advantage of Yemen’s long-standing economic troubles and escalating domestic issues. Their actions, including crackdowns on dissent and aid workers, have further complicated the already fraught situation in Yemen.
As the war continues to ravage the Arab world’s poorest nation, Yemen’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with tens of thousands of lives lost and millions displaced. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis and the US-backed Yemeni government has led to widespread suffering, making it one of the most prolonged and devastating wars in the region. Despite international efforts for a ceasefire, the path to peace remains uncertain, with both sides entrenched in their positions.
