Yemen’s Houthi rebels have shot down 2 American MQ-9 Reaper drones in under a week, more highlighting the local spread of the Israel-Hamas war
ByJON GAMBRELL Associated Press
September 17, 2024, 10: 49 PM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels shot down 2 American MQ-9 Reaper drones in under a week, the United States armedforce acknowledged Wednesday, additional highlighting the local spread of the Israel-Hamas war.
As the 1year anniversary of the war methods, Houthis continue a project to target ships takingatrip through the Red Sea as U.S.-led airstrikes pound their positions in Yemen. That’s threatened a waterway that generally sees $1 trillion of trade pass through it, as well as important deliveries of help to war-torn Sudan and Yemen.
The U.S. military stated Houthis shot down the veryfirst Reaper on Sept. 10, and the 2nd on Monday. Online video revealed the downing and the flaming wreckage on the ground later in Yemen’s Dhamar province.
General Atomics Reapers, which expense around $30 million each, can fly at elevations up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before requiring to land. The airplane haveactually been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years.
U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary