WASHINGTON: A US defence official on Monday said that a US MQ-9 Reaper has been “downed,” after Yemen’s Houthis said they shot down one of the drones.
It is the second time this month that a US official has confirmed the loss of one of the drones, which can be used for both strikes and reconnaissance.
“An MQ-9 was downed,” the defence official said, without providing further details but suggesting the Houthis were responsible.
“This is the latest example of malign and reckless behaviour by Houthis that threatens regional stability,” the official added.
Spokesman of Houthi military Yahya Saree had previously said they shot down an MQ-9 while it was carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Saada Governorate.
The Pentagon in September said that an MQ-9 had crashed near Yemen, and confirmed in February that another of the drones went down near the country’s coast.
The Houthis who are opposed to government forces in Yemen and are one of several Iran-linked groups fighting against Israel started attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November.
They claim they are attacking Israel-linked ships in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by Israel, but ships from multiple nations that have no ties to the conflict have been targeted.
