Yemen’s Houthis have claimed one other shootdown of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The Thursday announcement, if correct, would mark the second such Reaper drone downing by the group inside 72 hours.
The nation’s SABA information company reported that the US drone was intercepted by an anti-air missile over the Hodeidah province, which has been topic of repeat US bombardment since President Trump ordered a renewed air marketing campaign on March 15.
Fox Information’ Jennifer Griffin has supplied some affirmation of the newest downing, writing on X “the Houthis shoot down third MQ9 Reaper drone since March third; 2nd since March fifteenth airstrike marketing campaign started.”
“One other U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down by the Houthis in Yemen, sources inform Fox Information. That is the third MQ-9 Reaper drone shot down by the Houthis within the final month,” she continued.
“It’s the second MQ-9 drone shot down over Yemen since U.S. Central Command started each day airstrikes on the Houthis on March fifteenth. The U.S. army has carried out 20 straight days of bombing, and but the Houthis proceed to fireside missiles.”
The Fox correspondent continued within the Thursday assertion:
The primary MQ-9 drone was shot down on March third. Days later the White Home launched airstrikes in opposition to the Houthis. The second MQ-9 was shot down on Monday. And immediately the third one was shot down. In a single day the Houthis stated the U.S. carried out 36 airstrikes on Yemen.
The Pentagon has stored silent, providing no affirmation, nevertheless. US officers have previously acknowledged just some drone downings over Yemen, however do not announce every one misplaced as they doubtless do not need to give the Houthis any acknowledgement of a profitable battlefield motion.
If correct, this could mark the seventeenth Reaper drone shot down by the Houthis since 2023. Nonetheless, President Trump is touting ‘profitable’ operations in Yemen, additionally as a second plane service is en route from the Pacific to Mideast regional waters.
“A lot of their Fighters and Leaders are not with us,” Trump stated earlier this week on Reality Social. “We hit them every single day and night time — More durable and tougher. Their capabilities that threaten Delivery and the Area are quickly being destroyed. Our assaults will proceed till they’re not a risk to Freedom of Navigation.”
Trump added: “The selection for the Houthis is evident: Cease capturing at U.S. ships, and we’ll cease capturing at you. In any other case, we now have solely simply begun, and the true ache is but to come back, for each the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.”
Pentagon’s success in destroying Houthi missile and drone arsenal has been largely restricted.
Pentagon spent roughly $200 million in munitions in opposition to Houthis in three weeks.
US strikes in opposition to Houthis might exceed $1 billion by subsequent week.
Supply: NYT
— Conflict Report (@clashreport) April 4, 2025
The Iran-supported Yemeni militants have vowed to proceed preventing as long as Israeli’s army is energetic within the Gaza Strip. To this point there’s been no trace they will again down, even within the face of overwhelming US airstrikes.
