The Houthi-affiliated media broadcasted footage they said shows an American MQ-9 Reaper drone destroyed in Yemeni airspace. Their spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, again took credit for the strike—part of a broader escalation in the conflict. The alleged downing follows months of high-stakes clashes, including over 100 Houthi-claimed attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea since Hamas’ October 2023 raid on Israel. The Houthis cite “solidarity with Palestine” to justify targeting what they call “Zionist and American” interests.
The US has not confirmed the most recent shootdown but acknowledges that American unmanned aircraft have come under threat. In response, the US launched additional strikes on Houthi sites—operations that began on March 15. President Donald Trump accuses Iran of fueling the group’s insurgency, warning Tehran to stop arming them. Meanwhile, the Houthis claim to have imposed a blockade on American shipping in the Red Sea and threatened further actions against the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, which remains on station. Tensions between Washington and the Iran-aligned insurgents highlight the potential for a larger Middle East conflagration tied to the concurrent Israel-Hamas war. #shorts
[ad_2]
source
