Yemen’s Houthi forces announced on Wednesday that they have successfully shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Al-Jawf province, marking the 18th such incident since October 2023.
In a televised statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said, “Our air defences shot down a US MQ-9 drone in the airspace of Al-Jawf province, using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.”
The Houthis claim the drone takedowns are part of their broader military campaign in solidarity with Palestinians, launched shortly after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, 2023. “This is the 18th US drone shot down by our air defenses since October 2023,” Sarea stated, reiterating their commitment to continue operations against Israeli and American military assets in the region.
The downing of the drone came just days after a similar incident over the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Residents in northern Yemen have reported frequent sightings of MQ-9 drones in their skies since the conflict intensified last year.
In retaliation, the United States conducted a series of airstrikes late Tuesday, targeting multiple Houthi positions in the capital Sanaa and the provinces of Hodeidah, Marib, Dhamar, and Ibb. According to Houthi television, a total of 50 airstrikes were carried out.
Local health authorities reported that the airstrikes on Hodeidah’s residential neighborhoods resulted in six fatalities, including a pregnant woman, and left 16 others wounded—most of whom were women and children.
The renewed US military campaign follows the collapse of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations and is part of Washington’s broader effort to deter Houthi aggression in the region, particularly their attacks on commercial shipping and warships in the Red Sea.
Houthi leadership maintains that their operations will continue until the Israeli military campaign in Gaza ends and the blockade on the Palestinian territory is lifted.
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