21-2-2024 (WASHINGTON) An MQ-9 drone belonging to the US military was reportedly shot down near Yemen by Iran-backed militants, marking the second incident of its kind in recent months amidst escalating hostilities between the group and US forces, according to two US officials on Tuesday (Feb 20).
The Houthi rebels, in control of the majority of Yemen for nearly a decade, have intensified their drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November, targeting both commercial and military vessels. In response, US and British forces have launched numerous strikes on Houthi facilities, yet have been unable to halt the persistent attacks.
An anonymous official revealed that preliminary information indicates the General Atomics-manufactured US drone was struck near Hodeidah on Monday. However, the official did not specify whether the drone was in international airspace, highlighting that the details might be subject to change.
The second official confirmed that the drone was brought down by a Houthi surface-to-air missile fired from the vicinity of Hodeidah, aligning with the Houthi claim that they had shot down a drone near the port city.
This incident echoes a similar event in November when another MQ-9 was shot down by the Houthis. Additionally, the group downed two drones in 2019.
On Monday, the Houthi militants declared an attack on the Rubymar cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden, stating it was at risk of sinking. This move escalated their campaign to disrupt global shipping, expressing solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war.
Despite facing Western retaliations in Yemen, the Houthis remain resolute in their commitment to target ships associated with Israel until the attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip cease.
The Pentagon finally admitted to its loss… AnsarAllah Yemen shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone on the coast of the Red Sea yesterday ☝️ الله أكبر
????????????????#GazaIsNotAlone #فريق_مجاهدون pic.twitter.com/H2HgO8Ujy3
— Azza Alsalam (@AlsalamAzza) February 21, 2024
