AFP on September 30 quoted a US defense official confirming that an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had been shot down. The official did not provide further details about the incident but implied that the Houthis were behind the action.
"This is the latest example of the vicious and reckless behavior of the Iran-backed Houthi forces, which threatens regional stability," the US official accused.
Houthi launches 'complex' missile and UAV attack on US warship in Red Sea
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree earlier said he had shot down an MQ-9 aircraft while it was carrying out a "hostile mission in the airspace of Saada province".
This is the second time in September that a US official has confirmed the loss of an MQ-9 UAV, a type of aircraft that can be used for both reconnaissance and attack missions and costs up to tens of millions of dollars.
An MQ-9 launches a missile.
Earlier in September, the Pentagon announced that an MQ-9 had crashed near Yemen. In February, the Pentagon also confirmed that another crashed near the coast of Yemen after being hit by a Houthi missile.
The Houthis began attacking shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in November 2023 to show support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip conflict. They claim to have only attacked Israeli-linked ships, but ships from other countries have also been targeted.
Recently, many Israeli military aircraft conducted large-scale airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to missile attacks by this force towards Israeli territory. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later stated: "Israel's message is clear: for Israel, no place is too far away."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-thua-nhan-them-mot-uav-dat-tien-bi-ban-roi-chi-trich-houthi-185241001083815561.htm
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