Sana’a, April 25, 2025 – Yemen’s Houthi armed group has reportedly shot down seven U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones in a span of just three weeks, marking a significant material setback for Washington’s military campaign in the region. The drones, each valued at approximately $30 million, were destroyed between March 31 and April 22, according to U.S. defense officials.
Three of the downed drones were lost in just the past week, pointing to a sharp increase in the Houthis’ capacity to target high-altitude aircraft. The drones were conducting surveillance or strike operations when they were taken out, crashing either into land or the sea.
The incidents coincide with a mounting civilian death toll in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Since March 15, dozens of civilians have been reported killed following an intensified U.S. air campaign ordered by former President Donald Trump. The strikes, which are ongoing, have drawn criticism amid growing regional backlash.
According to U.S. Central Command spokesperson Dave Eastburn, American forces have hit more than 800 targets during the campaign, including weapons depots, command centers, and air defenses. He claimed that hundreds of Houthi fighters and commanders have been killed—figures that remain unverified by independent sources.
An anonymous U.S. official told the Associated Press that the drone losses are still under investigation but are believed to be due to hostile fire from the Houthis.
The Houthi group has intensified its military actions in response to the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, targeting Israeli, U.S., and British vessels in the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The fighters have stated their attacks will cease if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.