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By Marni Rose McFall
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A video said to show Houthi rebels celebrating the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper in Yemen has added to growing concerns about the drone's potential vulnerability to attacks. Yemen's Houthi rebels have continued attacks on shipping in the Red Sea area in response to the Israel-Hamas war, and are known to have targeted drones in the past. The video has not been independently verified by Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted a representative of the U.S. Air Force for comment.
The Context
Yemen's civil war, which has been ongoing since 2014, has seen the Iran-aligned rebel group the Houthis seize significant territory, including Yemen's capital, Sanaa.
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The group has been attacking international shipping in the Red Sea since November.
The U.S. has been involved in the conflict, primarily through drone operations targeting Houthi positions. The MQ-9 Reaper drone, valued at $30 million each, is a critical asset in these operations, known for its long endurance and high-altitude capabilities.
What We Know
Reports said that the drone was downed in Yemen's Marib province, an area crucial to both Houthi forces and Yemen's exiled government. Images show that the drone, which does not appear to carry any markings, was largely intact, suggesting it wasn't destroyed by an explosion.
The Houthis released footage which showed the aircraft being targeted with a surface-to-air missile, according to The Associated Press. A Houthi military spokesman gave a televised speech saying that the group had brought down the drone.
An anonymous U.S. defense official told the AP that "the U.S. Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility."
However, the CIA also is believed to have flown Reaper drones over Yemen, the outlet reported. The CIA declined to comment to the AP.
If confirmed, it would be the third Reaper drone downed in Yemen this month alone. The video, posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows Houthis appearing to celebrate the downing by standing on top of the drone.
In separate images which were analyzed by the AP, the MQ-9 was shown on in the desert with its tail assembly removed from the rest of its fuselage. According to the AP, the image included Wednesday's date.
The fact that the drone was largely intact could suggest it was brought down not with a missile but through other means, such as jamming its guidance systems, causing it to crash.
The Houthis have accelerated their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The group is demanding that Israel ends the war in Gaza and has also used drones in attacks.
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On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack against Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Since then, Israel's offensive has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the AP reported, citing local health officials. More than 80 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced in the conflict.
The U.S. military is thought to have lost at least five drones to the Houthi rebels since the civil war began in Yemen in 2014.
What's Next
The downing of the drone may add to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly with recent Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
If confirmed, the U.S. may need to reassess its drone operations and consider increased protective measures.
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