Yemen’s Houthis Down $30M US Reaper Drone, Third in 6 Months

Over the weekend, Yemen’s Houthi Rebels reported that they had successfully downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, marking the third such incident in the past six months. This development comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about a potential escalation in the region.

The downed MQ-9 drone, which is estimated to cost around $30 million, was part of the U.S.’s efforts to protect ships in the Red Sea from ongoing Houthi attacks. The rebels claimed to have used a surface-to-air missile to take down the drone and even released footage of the incident. This action is seen as part of the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the Houthis aligning themselves with Hamas.

In a separate incident, a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 drone crashed in Yemen. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and an investigation into the crash is currently underway. However, it has not been confirmed whether this particular drone was also shot down by hostile forces.

Since November, this latest downing brings the total number of MQ-9 drones lost to three, amounting to an estimated cost of $90 million for the U.S. These incidents coincide with the Houthis’ aggressive actions against shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Recently, the rebels launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea, with one of them hitting the MV Andromeda Star and causing minor damage. Despite this, the oil tanker has continued its voyage.

The Houthis, who receive significant support from Iran, initially focused their attacks on vessels linked to Israel. However, they have since expanded their targets to include western allies of Israel. In response to these attacks, a coalition led by the U.S. and U.K. was formed in December to protect trade lanes and mitigate supply chain disruptions and potential increases in oil prices. Despite these efforts, the Houthis have continued their attacks on shipping vessels.

In a statement issued last month, a Houthi spokesperson reiterated that these attacks in the Red Sea will persist until what they perceive as aggression stops and the blockade on the Gaza Strip is lifted. This underscores the complex and ongoing nature of the conflict in the region, with various actors and interests at play.