A US MQ-9 drone was shot down over the airspace of Marib governorate in Yemen on Saturday, according to Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Iran-aligned Houthi group. The group claimed that the drone was engaging in hostile activities in the area.
The Houthis, who took control of northern Yemen and its capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have previously downed at least eight US drones.The MQ-9 Reaper, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, costs approximately $30 million per unit and can operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet for up to 24 hours.
The downing of the drone coincides with Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where the group has been demanding an end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has led to significant casualties. Since November, the Houthis have launched several attacks on shipping vessels, seizing one and sinking another, while also taking hostages.
The Houthis, who took control of northern Yemen and its capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have previously downed at least eight US drones.The MQ-9 Reaper, a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, costs approximately $30 million per unit and can operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet for up to 24 hours.
The downing of the drone coincides with Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where the group has been demanding an end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has led to significant casualties. Since November, the Houthis have launched several attacks on shipping vessels, seizing one and sinking another, while also taking hostages.