How Could the Houthis Shoot Down a US Reaper Drone?

Olawale Abaire, Warrior Contributor

U.S. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed in a recent press briefing that the MQ-99 drone did crash. However, Secretary Singh continued that the CENTCOM is investigating it.

The Houthi rebels have recently announced the successful interception and destruction of an MQ-9 drone over Yemen, showcasing video evidence of the event that took place during the night and the subsequent wreckage found during the day.

If verified, this would be the third MQ-9 drone taken down by the Houthis in the last six months and the sixth Reaper to be damaged in various Middle Eastern conflicts over the past 13 months.

The video evidence released by the Houthis shows what seems to be the launch of a surface-to-air missile, followed by an explosion and falling debris.

The aftermath is shown in the daytime footage, which displays what appears to be the remnants of an MQ-9’s tail section, propellers, engine, and parts of a wing. Some of these parts bear the label “General Atomics.” A Houthi spokesperson did not specify the type of surface-to-air missile used in the attack.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon confirmed that an MQ-9 had indeed crashed in Yemen but stated that the incident is currently under investigation. Since the attack on Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, which triggered a regional crisis, the Houthis and other militias backed by Iran have launched repeated attacks on U.S. forces and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

The MQ-9 Reaper, also known as Predator B, was designed to support military operations where there was no danger of them being shot down. It can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and has an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The drone is valued at around $30 million.