Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down another American-made MQ-9 drone over the country, marking what could be the latest incident involving the high-cost surveillance aircraft. Following the claim, which was reported early Sunday, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas, according to the rebels.
The U.S. military has acknowledged the claim but reported no current confirmation of any American drones being downed over Yemen. The Houthis, however, have a history of shooting down MQ-9 Reaper drones since they took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Their drone and missile attacks have notably increased following the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict and their recent campaign against shipping in the Red Sea corridor.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced the downing in a video message, stating that the drone was brought down over Yemen’s Marib province—a strategic region known for its significant oil and gas fields. Saree provided no specifics on the method used, though the rebels have been armed with Iranian surface-to-air missiles, despite Tehran’s denial of such support.
In response to the claim, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reported multiple U.S.-led airstrikes near Ibb. The U.S. Central Command later confirmed the destruction of three Iranian-backed Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and two missile systems in a Houthi-controlled area, though further details were not disclosed.
Since January, U.S. military actions against Houthi targets have intensified. The Houthis have launched attacks on over 80 merchant vessels, including strikes on tankers and other ships, amid their stated goal of pressuring Israel to halt its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Despite the Houthis’ claims, many of the attacked ships have had little connection to the Israel-Gaza conflict.