Yemen’s Houthi movement announced on Sunday that they have successfully shot down a U.S. military drone flying above its capital city of Sanaa. This event marks a further escalation between Iran-aligned group and U.S. forces operating in Yemen.
According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, an unmanned aerial vehicle conducting hostile reconnaissance in Yemeni airspace was shot down using a surface-to-air missile system while conducting hostile reconnaissance. Saree identified this drone as an MQ-9 Reaper from United States forces which is widely used for surveillance and strike missions.
Saree made the statement as part of his legitimate right to defend their land and sovereignty. “Our air defenses successfully targeted and shot down an aggressive U.S. MQ-9 drone while it was conducting aggressive missions over Sanaa,” Saree stated in a televised statement.
While the United States has yet to officially acknowledge that they lost a drone, sources within the Pentagon told international media that an investigation is under way to verify such claims. If confirmed, this incident would mark another instance of Houthi forces taking down one or more U.S. drones within recent months.
This incident comes amid rising tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding regions, where Houthis have been accused of attacking commercial vessels and international naval patrols as a response to Gaza conflict. As such, U.S. has increased military presence to deter attacks and secure vital shipping lanes.
Security analysts argue that the loss of an American drone would be an important development, further complicating efforts to manage the conflict and increasing the likelihood of direct confrontation between American forces and Houthi militia members.
Houthi rebels who control much of northern Yemen including Sanaa have warned repeatedly that any foreign military presence or aerial surveillance on their territories constitutes a provocation.
As diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in Yemen remain stagnant and humanitarian conditions deteriorate, aid groups warn of renewed fighting and international military activity as threats that could further endanger civilians already facing food shortages and displacement.
As both parties provide additional statements regarding this incident, more details may emerge.