The Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed Tuesday that they shot down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Marib province, even as American forces expanded a punishing campaign of airstrikes across the country. The latest escalation underscores the deepening conflict between U.S. forces and the Iranian-backed group, with President Donald Trump warning that strikes will continue until the Houthis "are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation."
The U.S. has launched dozens of air raids across Houthi-held territory since March 15, with recent strikes hitting sites near the capital Sanaa and in the northern province of Saada, according to Houthi media and local reports. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said 15 air raids struck Saada and the surrounding districts of Majz and Sahar, while other strikes hit Mount Nabi Shuaib in Bani Matar, west of Sanaa.
President Trump confirmed the continuation of the strikes Monday on his Truth Social platform, writing, "We hit them every day and night - Harder and harder. Their capabilities that threaten Shipping and the Region are rapidly being destroyed." He added, "The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran."
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for downing the Reaper drone, stating in a video message that the aircraft was targeted with "a suitable locally manufactured missile." The Houthis have previously displayed Iranian-made 358 missiles and other advanced weaponry in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.
While Iran officially denies supplying the Houthis with arms, the U.S. and Israel maintain that Tehran is behind the group's arsenal, which has included anti-ship missiles, drones, and surface-to-air weaponry. U.S. Central Command released footage Tuesday of jets launching from an aircraft carrier as part of the operation, but declined to comment on the reported loss of the drone.
General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers, valued at approximately $30 million each, are long-endurance surveillance and strike drones used extensively by both the U.S. military and intelligence community. The Houthis claim to have shot down 20 Reapers over Yemen, with 16 allegedly downed since the start of their military campaign linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Since November, the Houthis have attacked over 100 merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors. The group has also fired upon U.S. warships, although none have been hit. These attacks, originally launched in protest of Israeli military actions in Gaza, have paralyzed Red Sea shipping routes and prompted a forceful military response from Washington.
The Associated Press and regional sources report that at least 61 people have been killed in Yemen since the U.S. campaign began in March. Civilian casualties have not been independently confirmed, though the strikes have widened beyond missile launch sites to include targets within urban centers.
