American Drone MQ-9 Reaper Shot Down By Houthi Rebels For Allegedly Supporting Israel, US Defence Official Confirms

A senior US defence official confirmed on Wednesday (8 November) that an American MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down by Yemen's Houthi rebels, substantiating the claim made earlier by the Iran-backed group as reported by NDTV.

The Houthis, who took control of Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014 and hold significant portions of the country, have claimed responsibility for the shootdown that occurred earlier.

The Houthis claimed that they successfully shot down an American MQ-9 drone in Yemeni territorial waters.

They stated that the drone was engaged in hostile surveillance and espionage activities, as part of the American military support for Israel.

In response to a surprise cross-border attack by Hamas militants from Gaza on 7 October, which Israeli officials claim resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, the United States swiftly provided military assistance to Israel and reinforced American forces in the region.

In response to the situation, Israel's military launched a continuous and forceful attack on Gaza using air, land, and naval forces.

According to the territory's health ministry, this assault has resulted in the deaths of over 10,500 individuals, causing significant anger throughout the region.

In the past few weeks, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Israel, with the US Navy successfully intercepting numerous missiles launched by the Houthis just last month.