A third US MQ-9 Reaper drone has reportedly been shot down in Yemen by Houthi rebels, adding to the escalating tensions in the region as attacks on shipping continue.
Another unfortunate incident has occurred, resulting in the downing of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen. This latest occurrence, purportedly captured on Wednesday, May 29, marks the third such incident this month alone, as tensions escalate in the region. The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claim responsibility for the attack, releasing footage allegedly depicting the aircraft being targeted by a surface-to-air missile over the central Marib province.
Authorities in Marib, controlled by allies of the exiled Yemeni government, have refrained from commenting on the matter. However, a US defense official, speaking anonymously, stated that "the US Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within US Central Command's area of responsibility," without providing further details. The CIA has also reportedly employed Reaper drones in Yemen, conducting surveillance and counterterrorism operations, but has declined to comment on the latest incident.
The location of the downing, Marib province, holds strategic significance in Yemen's protracted conflict, situated on the outskirts of the Empty Quarter Desert and nestled beside the Red Sea's Sarawat Mountains. The region has witnessed the downing of US drones in the past, reflecting its pivotal role in the ongoing war.
Since the outbreak of Yemen's civil war in 2014, rebels have claimed to have taken down a minimum of five US drones. This month has seen an alarming uptick in suspected shootdowns, with two additional incidents awaiting confirmation from the American military. Reapers, each costing approximately $30 million, boast impressive capabilities, soaring at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and enduring up to 24 hours in the air before requiring a landing.
The Houthi rebels have intensified their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent months, demanding an end to Israel's offensive in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians. The escalation began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel in October 2014, resulting in the deaths of roughly 1,200 Israelis and the capture of 250 others.
The Houthis have launched numerous attacks on shipping, seizing one vessel and sinking another since November, posing a significant threat to maritime traffic. The US Maritime Administration has reported a decline in shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to the heightened security concerns.
On Wednesday, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree acknowledged an attack on the bulk carrier Laax on Tuesday. Saree further claimed a series of other attacks on vessels that have not reported any incidents, though he failed to provide supporting evidence. Past claims made by Saree have been known to be exaggerated.
