Military source says US-made MQ-9 drone downed in northeastern Yemen

Aden, Yemen - A US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down in the oil-rich Marib province in northeastern Yemen on Friday (29 May), a Yemeni military official told Xinhua.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drone was downed in northwestern Marib while operating in the region’s airspace.

The source suspected the Houthi group was responsible for the shooting, noting that the incident occurred less than two weeks after a similar event that downed another MQ-9 in Marib.

There has been no direct comment from the US or the Houthi group.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, and is capable of precision strikes.

In recent months, the Houthi group has announced shooting down several US MQ-9 drones in various provinces of Yemen under their control.

The group stated the attacks were in response to what they described as military actions by the US and UK against Yemen.