Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched surface-to-air missiles at a US fighter jet and an MQ-9 Reaper drone earlier this week but failed to hit either target, according to two US officials speaking anonymously to Reuters. The location of the attempted strikes—whether over Yemen or the Red Sea—was not specified.
One of the officials suggested the incidents might indicate that the Iran-backed group is enhancing its targeting capabilities.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi previously warned in a televised address on February 13 that his forces would target vessels in the Red Sea and deploy drones and missiles if the US and Israel attempted to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza. He also threatened to resume direct attacks on Israel.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 assaults on ships in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade and justifying their actions as support for Palestinian militants fighting Israel. Throughout the Gaza war, the group also carried out near-daily missile and drone strikes on Israel, leading to casualties and damage, including in Tel Aviv and Eilat. While most of these attacks were intercepted, some managed to hit targets on Israeli soil.
In retaliation, Israel, the US, and Britain have conducted airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. The Houthis previously stated that they would halt attacks once the Gaza war ended, and since the ceasefire on January 19, they have not targeted Israel.
The group has a history of shooting down MQ-9 Reaper drones, especially after taking control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Their missile capabilities have expanded significantly, aided by Iranian weaponry, including the 358 surface-to-air missile. Though Iran denies supplying arms to the Houthis, Tehran-manufactured weapons have been intercepted in shipments bound for Yemen, despite a UN arms embargo.
The MQ-9 Reaper, valued at around $30 million per unit, can operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and remain airborne for up to 24 hours. The US military and CIA have used them extensively over Yemen in recent years.