Tehran-Backed Houthis Down 17th U.S. MQ-9 Drone, Valued at $32 Million, Over Yemen's Al Bayda

Dec 28, 2024, 05:58 PM

Yemen's Houthi group, backed by Tehran, has announced the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the central province of Al Bayda, marking the 13th such incident since their operations began. The drone, valued at approximately $32 million, was reportedly conducting hostile missions when it was targeted by a locally-made surface-to-air missile. The Houthis claim this action is part of their ongoing military operations to defend Yemen's sovereignty and support Palestinians in Gaza. The total loss from these downed drones is estimated at $416 million. The U.S. has yet to comment on the incident, which is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Houthis and the U.S. military since November 2023. Additionally, this marks the 17th drone downed by the Houthis.