The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Sunday that they had shot down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, calling it a response to what they described as ongoing American aggression and deadly attacks on the Yemeni people.
In a statement, the Yemeni military said the drone was brought down on Sunday as part of its continued resistance. The MQ-9, which costs an estimated $33 million per unit, is widely used by the U.S. for surveillance and strike missions. With multiple drones reportedly downed in Yemen, the U.S. military has suffered equipment losses estimated at over $600 million.
In addition to targeting American drones, the Yemeni forces claimed they recently launched attacks against key Israeli sites. According to their statement, two ballistic missiles — including a hypersonic one — were fired at an Israeli military base and Ben Gurion Airport.
A Yemeni drone also reportedly hit a “vital” Israeli target in what the group referred to as “occupied territories.”
“By the grace of Allah, both operations have successfully achieved their objectives,” the statement said, claiming the strike temporarily shut down Ben Gurion Airport and caused panic among Israeli civilians, forcing many into shelters.
Yemen’s military vowed to continue its operations against U.S. and Israeli targets as long as the conflict in Gaza and U.S. airstrikes in Yemen continue.
“The Israeli enemy, along with the Americans, must realize that Yemen—its leadership, people, and army—will not retreat from its firm stance supporting the oppressed Palestinian people,” the statement added. “Yemen will not abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties, no matter the cost.”
The drone downing and missile strikes came shortly after new U.S. airstrikes targeted several provinces in Yemen. According to Yemeni media, American forces struck the central province of al-Bayda and the provinces of Sa’ada and Hudaydah.
Five airstrikes reportedly hit a vocational training institute in the al-Sawma’ah district of al-Bayda late Saturday night.
