(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — The Houthi armed group has claimed responsibility for successfully downing a United States military’s MQ-9 “Reaper” drone in the vicinity of the Hodeidah coast in Yemen.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi faction, stated that their forces managed to shoot down the “Reaper” drone, estimated to be worth between $30 million and $40 million (equivalent to approximately RM135 million to RM180 million).
According to him, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was targeted and brought down using a suitable guided missile while it was conducting “malicious” operations on behalf of Israel against Yemen.
The armed group has also released video footage showing the successful shootdown of the drone and its wreckage at an undisclosed location in Yemen.
Meanwhile, two senior officials from the United States Department of Defense have confirmed to Fox News that an MQ-9 Reaper drone belonging to the US had crashed in Yemen after being reportedly shot down by the armed group.
“We can confirm that a United States Air Force MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in Yemen near the Hodeidah coast and are currently investigating the cause of the incident,” stated the Department of Defense officials.
However, they emphasized that it is still unclear whether the Houthi group was involved in this incident.
If the Houthi group’s involvement is confirmed, this would mark the second instance of the faction successfully downing a US unmanned aerial vehicle.
The United States Air Force has noted that the MQ-9 Reaper drone is utilized for intelligence gathering purposes but can also be equipped with up to eight “Hellfire” missiles for ground attack missions.
The drone is capable of flying up to an altitude of 25,000 feet and can perform strike, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. It is operated by a two-member crew, with one pilot navigating the drone while the other member controls its sensors and weaponry systems. — DSA