Houthi Rebels Down Two American Drones in Yemen Amid Regional Escalation

Yemen’s Houthi rebels shot down two American MQ-9 Reaper drones in under a week, the United States military acknowledged Wednesday, further highlighting the regional spread of the Israel-Hamas war.

As the one-year anniversary of the war approaches, Houthis continue a campaign to target ships travelling through the Red Sea as US-led airstrikes pound their positions in Yemen. That’s imperiled a waterway that typically sees USD 1 trillion of trade pass through it, as well as crucial shipments of aid to war-torn Sudan and Yemen.

US Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, said authorities continue to investigate Monday’s downing, but declined to elaborate.
He added that a claim by the Houthis that they shot down 10 Reapers since the start of their campaign in November over the Israel-Hamas war was “not accurate.”
“For operation security reasons, I’m not going to be able to provide a specific number,” Ryder said Tuesday.

Source » devdiscourse.com