Houthis Claim Downing 18 US MQ-9 Reaper Drones Since Gaza War Began
In a bold announcement, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed on Wednesday that it had shot down its 18th US MQ-9 Reaper drone since October 2023. The latest drone was reportedly brought down over Al-Jawf province by a locally developed surface-to-air missile, according to Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea in a televised speech aired on the group’s al-Masirah TV channel.
This growing tally of downed US drones has come amid heightened regional tensions, particularly after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in October. The Houthis, a powerful armed faction that controls much of northern Yemen, have openly declared their military campaign against both Israel and the United States as a show of support for Palestinians in Gaza. Their involvement has widened the war’s reach far beyond its original borders.
The MQ-9 Reaper, an advanced high-altitude drone used for intelligence, surveillance, and precision strikes, has become a familiar sight to many Yemenis. Since October, these drones have frequently patrolled skies over northern Yemen, including Al-Jawf, Hodeidah, and Sanaa, as part of US-led efforts to monitor and respond to Houthi operations.
The most recent reported downing over Hodeidah came just a few days before this latest claim, highlighting the pace at which the group is targeting US aerial assets.
According to Sarea, the drone takedowns are part of a larger strategy. “We will continue to support the Palestinian people until the aggression on Gaza stops and the siege is lifted,” he said, also vowing more attacks on US naval forces operating in the Red Sea.
In response, the United States has stepped up its own military actions in Yemen. Just hours before the latest Houthi statement, American forces launched around 50 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces including Sanaa, Hodeidah, Marib, Dhamar, and Ibb. These strikes are part of Washington’s broader effort to deter the Houthis from launching further missile and drone attacks, especially those that target Israel or international shipping routes in the Red Sea.
Tragically, the latest wave of US airstrikes in Hodeidah led to civilian casualties. Local health authorities reported six deaths, including a pregnant woman, and at least 16 others wounded—many of them children.
These developments mark a dangerous deepening of the regional conflict. What started as a war between Israel and Hamas has now escalated into a wider confrontation involving powerful non-state actors like the Houthis. By successfully shooting down high-value US drones and resisting airstrikes, the Houthis are asserting both military capability and political resolve.
Analysts note that this cycle of escalation—missile launches, drone shootdowns, and retaliatory airstrikes—is not only destabilizing the region but also complicating Washington’s efforts to contain the conflict.
While the MQ-9 Reaper remains a key tool in the US military’s surveillance and strike arsenal, its vulnerability to increasingly sophisticated air defense systems—even from non-state actors—raises new questions about the evolving dynamics of modern warfare.
For now, the skies over Yemen remain a battleground in a larger geopolitical chess match, with far-reaching implications for peace and stability in the Middle East.
