The Yemeni group Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, announced the downing of an American MQ-9 drone in Marib, a region rich in oil and gas in eastern Yemen.
The group stated it is enhancing its defensive capabilities to counter American and British aircraft and respond by targeting their military movements.
Yahya Sarea, the spokesperson for the Houthi forces, revealed in a military statement broadcasted on Al-Masirah TV that the American drone was shot down while conducting hostile operations over Marib.
He emphasized that this was the eighth drone of its type to be downed during what he described as “the battle of the promised conquest and the holy jihad in support of Gaza.”
Sarea further confirmed the Yemeni armed forces’ ongoing commitment to their “jihadist duty” to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and Yemen.
He added that the forces were preparing to enhance their defensive capabilities to counteract the American and British aggression, responding by targeting their hostile military movements.
This statement comes shortly after the Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, on Thursday, disclosed ongoing developments in the group’s military capabilities, hinting at “upcoming surprises.”
He affirmed continued attacks against vessels associated with Israel or heading to its ports in support of Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Moreover, last Monday, the Houthis announced an attack on a commercial vessel named “Blue Lagoon One” in the Red Sea, confirming hits by “several appropriate missiles and drones.” The group justified the attack as a response to the vessel owner’s violation of the Houthis’ decision to ban ships from heading to Israeli ports, in support of Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Since November, the group has launched maritime attacks it claims are “targeting vessels linked with Israel, the United States, and Britain or heading to Israeli ports,” to support Palestinian factions against the Israeli army in Gaza.
