Yemen's Houthi rebels have released supposed footage of a MQ-9 Reaper drone being shot down as the crisis in the Red Sea intensifies.
On Monday night, U.S. officials told The New York Times that a military surveillance drone fell from the sky. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not reveal the cause of the crash.
“Yemeni air defenses were able to shoot down an American plane (MQ-9) with a suitable missile while it was carrying out hostile missions against our country on behalf of the Zionist entity,” a Houthis spokesperson announced, expressing gratitude to “God Almighty.”
“Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to take more military measures and carry out more qualitative operations against all hostile targets in defense of beloved Yemen,” they continued.
If confirmed, this would be the second time that the Houthis downed a U.S. drone in the Red Sea region since the Iranian-backed groups began targeting civilian ships. Houthi attacks have intensified in the past two months, leading to fears that the fight between Israel and Hamas could spread.
Simultaneously, a British-owned cargo ship appears to have met a similar fate. The crew of the bulk carrier Rubymar abandoned ship after receiving hits from two Houthi missiles while it transited the Bab al Mandab Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the Rubymar sustained “catastrophic” damage during the attack.
Sky News has more:
In a statement posted on X on Monday, he said the ship “came to a complete halt” after the attack and its crew were forced to abandon the vessel.
The spokesman said: “During the operation, we made sure the ship's crew exited safely.
“As a result of the extensive damage the ship suffered, it is now at risk of potential sinking.”
A UK government spokesperson said vessels from a coalition of Western ships were “already on the scene”
A U.S.-led coalition has launched several rounds of strikes in Yemen, pledging to continue until the Houthis cease their attacks.
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