Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim they shot down another US MQ-9 drone

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed early Sunday they shot down one other American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the nation, marking doubtlessly the newest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance plane. The U.S. launched airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory afterward, the rebels stated.

The U.S. army informed The Related Press it was conscious of the declare however has “acquired no experiences” of American army drones being downed over Yemen.

The rebels supplied no photos or video to help the declare as they’ve previously, although such materials can seem in propaganda footage days later.

Nonetheless, the Houthis have repeatedly downed Common Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drones within the years since they seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014. These assaults have exponentially elevated because the begin of the Israel-Hamas warfare and the Houthis launched their marketing campaign concentrating on delivery within the Purple Sea hall.

Houthi army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree made the declare in a prerecorded video message. He stated the Houthis shot down the drone over Yemen’s Marib province, a long-contested space residence to key oil and gasoline fields that’s been held by allies of a Saudi-led coalition battling the rebels since 2015.

Saree supplied no particulars on how the rebels down the plane. Nonetheless, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile referred to as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, although Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been discovered on the battlefield and in seaborne shipments heading to Yemen regardless of a United Nations arms embargo.

The Houthis “proceed to carry out their jihadist duties in victory for the oppressed Palestinian individuals and in protection of expensive Yemen,” Saree stated.

Reapers, which value round $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes as much as 50,000 toes and have an endurance of as much as 24 hours earlier than needing to land. The plane have been flown by each the U.S. army and the CIA over Yemen for years.

After the declare, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite tv for pc information channel reported a number of U.S.-led airstrikes close to town of Ibb. Late Sunday, the U.S. army’s Central Command stated it had “destroyed three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial automobiles and two missile methods in a Houthi-controlled space of Yemen,” with out elaborating.

The Individuals have been placing Houthi targets intensely since January.

The Houthis have focused greater than 80 service provider vessels with missiles and drones because the warfare in Gaza began in October. They seized one vessel and sank two within the marketing campaign that has additionally killed 4 sailors. Different missiles and drones have both been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition within the Purple Sea or failed to achieve their targets, which have included Western army vessels as effectively.

The rebels preserve that they aim ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.Ok. to power an finish to Israel’s marketing campaign in opposition to Hamas in Gaza. Nonetheless, most of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the battle, together with some sure for Iran.

These assaults embody the barrage that struck the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion within the Purple Sea. Salvagers final week deserted an preliminary effort to tow away the burning oil tanker, leaving the Sounion stranded and its 1 million barrels of oil liable to spilling.