Houthis shot down again: US MQ-9 drone crashes near Yemen

The Pentagon reported on Tuesday, 17 September, that an American MQ-9 Reaper drone had crashed near Yemen. Earlier, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels had already claimed to have shot down several drones.

Here's What We Know

"Yesterday, MQ-9 did crash near Yemen. It's being investigated, but I don't have any additional details to share," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told reporters.

The Houthis said on Tuesday that they had shot down three MQ-9s in the past week, a figure Ryder called "too high."

A Pentagon spokesman said he could not give a specific number for security reasons, but that the Houthi figure was "not accurate."

The latest drone crash comes after the Pentagon confirmed in February that another MQ-9 went down off the coast of Yemen after apparently being hit by a Houthi missile.

The rebels, who oppose Yemeni government forces and are hostile to Israel, began attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden about a year ago.

For those who don't know

The MQ-9 is an American UAV that was developed as an improved version of the MQ-1 Predator and is designed to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, strike, and search and rescue missions. The MQ-9 is equipped with a more powerful engine, which allows it to carry a heavier payload and stay in the air for up to 27 hours. It can be armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 bombs and other precision-guided munitions. The UAV is remotely controlled from a ground station, but also has the ability to fly autonomously according to a predefined programme.

Source: The Defence Post