Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on Sunday that they shot down an American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the country, potentially marking the latest downing of the high-cost surveillance aircraft. The US military responded with airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory, according to the rebels.
While the US military confirmed to The Associated Press that it was aware of the claim, it said it had “received no reports” of any American military drones being downed over Yemen.
Unlike previous occasions, the Houthis did not provide immediate evidence such as photos or videos to back up their claim, though propaganda footage could surface later.
The Houthis have frequently targeted and downed General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones since they seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Attacks have escalated since the Israel-Hamas war began, with the Houthis launching operations targeting shipping lanes in the Red Sea corridor.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced the claim via a prerecorded video, saying the drone was downed over Yemen’s Marib province, a contested area with key oil and gas fields controlled by Saudi-led coalition forces since 2015.
