Yemen's Houthi rebels have recently shot down two American MQ-9 Reaper drones, the United States military confirmed. These incidents occurred within a week, underscoring the widening impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the region. As the one-year mark of the war approaches, the Houthis have intensified their efforts to target ships navigating the Red Sea, while facing U.S.-led airstrikes in Yemen.
This ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the safety of the Red Sea, a critical waterway through which approximately $1 trillion worth of trade flows annually. Additionally, vital shipments of aid to Sudan and Yemen are at risk due to these hostilities.
The U.S. military disclosed that the first Reaper was downed on September 10, followed by the second incident on Monday. Video footage circulating online captured the moment of the drones being shot down and the subsequent fiery wreckage in Yemen's Dhamar province.
General Atomics Reapers, valued at around $30 million each, boast impressive capabilities, including the ability to operate at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and endure flights lasting up to 24 hours. These drones have been utilized by both the U.S. military and the CIA in Yemen for an extended period.
While Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, confirmed ongoing investigations into Monday's incident, he refrained from providing detailed information. Ryder dismissed the Houthis' claim of downing 10 Reapers since the conflict began in November, citing inaccuracies.
Since the Houthis seized control of northern Yemen and Sanaa in 2014, there have been previous instances of Reapers being shot down in Yemen in 2017, 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Notably, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant vessels using missiles and drones since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October. While some vessels were intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea, others were either unsuccessful in reaching their targets or resulted in casualties, including the loss of four sailors.
The rebels claim to be targeting ships associated with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. to pressure an end to Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, several attacked vessels have had minimal or no connection to the conflict, such as those en route to Iran.
One significant incident involved an attack on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. Salvage operations are underway to prevent a potential environmental disaster from the vessel's 1 million barrels of oil onboard.
