Houthis claim downing of another US-made drone in Yemen

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Houthi rebels in Yemen The Houthis claimed on Monday to have shot down another US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone, with a video circulating online showing what appeared to be a surface-to-air missile strike and flaming debris strewn on the ground.

The US military said it was aware that the Houthis had shot down a drone over Dhamar province in the southwest of the country, without elaborating.

The Houthis have exaggerated their claims in the past in their ongoing campaign targeting shipping in the Red Sea due to the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, the online video bolsters that claim, especially after two new Houthi claims were found to be without evidence.

Other videos showed armed rebels gathered around the burning wreckage, with a propeller similar to that used by an armed drone visible amid the flames. One tried to pick up a piece of metal before it dropped due to the heat.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, said the drone was an MQ-9, without explaining how he reached that conclusion. He said it was the third drone the group had shot down in a week, though the other two claims did not include a similar video or other evidence. The U.S. military has also not acknowledged losing any aircraft.

Saree said the Houthis used a locally made missile. However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, though. Tehran-made weapons found on battlefield And in sea shipments bound for Yemen despite the UN arms embargo.

The Reaper drones, which cost about $30 million each, can fly at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. They have been flown over Yemen for years by the U.S. military and the CIA.

The Houthis have targeted more than 80 commercial ships with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza began in October. One ship was captured. and Two drowned in the campaign. The attack also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones in the Red Sea have been intercepted or failed to reach their targets, which have also included Western military ships.

The rebels say they are targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States or the United Kingdom to force Israel to end its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. But many of the ships attacked have nothing to do with the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

These attacks include a bombing of the Greek-flagged oil tanker “Sunion” in the Red Sea. Rescue workers have begun searching for the tanker. Burning oil tanker towedHoping to avoid a catastrophic spill of a million barrels of oil on board.