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Reuters

A US military MQ-9 drone was shot down in Yemen’s Dhamar governate, southeast of the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, two US officials told Reuters on Wednesday, the second such incident in recent months.
A Houthi military spokesman had earlier said that air defences had brought down a US drone.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the drone was shot down late on Tuesday.
This is not the first time a US drone has been shot down in Yemen.
In June, the US military said that Houthi rebels had shot down a US government-operated drone with help from Iran.
US forces have occasionally launched drone and air strikes against Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch, known as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).


The group has taken advantage of a four-year-old war between the Houthi movement and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s Saudi-backed government to try to strengthen its position in the impoverished country.
One of the officials said that it appeared that the military drone had been shot down by a surface-to-air missile operated by the Iran-aligned Houthi group.
The official said that while losing a drone was expensive, it was not unprecedented and it was unlikely to lead to any major response by the United States.
The other official cautioned that it was too early to tell who was responsible for the incident.
Overnight, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria said that the drone had been shot down.
“The rocket which hit it was developed locally and will be revealed soon at a press conference,” Saria said on Twitter.

“Our skies are no longer open to violations as they once were and the coming days will see great surprises,” he added.
The drone shoot down comes as tensions between Iran and the United States have risen since President Donald Trump’s administration last year quit an international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and began to ratchet up sanctions. Iranian officials denounced the new penalties as “economic warfare”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday Tehran may act “unpredictably” in response to the United States’ “unpredictable” policies under Trump.


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Yemen

US military Reaper drone shot down over Yemen

An MQ-9 Reaper drone, like the one shot down over Yemen. File photo: Reuters

A Houthi rebel fighter fires in the air during a gathering aimed at mobilizing more fighters for the Houthi movement, in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. The conflict in Yemen began with the 2014 takeover of Sanaa by the Houthis, who drove out the internationally recognized government. Months later, in March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched its air campaign to prevent the rebels from overrunning the country's south. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

China’s Sky Hawk stealth drone has capability to ‘talk’ to fighter pilots, developer says

China’s new stealth drone, the Sky Hawk, went on display to the public at Airshow China in November. Photo: China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp

New Stealth drone Sky Hawk. Photo: China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation

Iran shoots down US Global Hawk drone amid heightened tensions

A RQ-4 Global Hawk drone. File photo: Reuters

epa07659383 A handout photo made available by the US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DIVIDS) showing a team of 12th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen walking beside an RQ-4 Global Hawk while it’s being towed during Red Flag Alaska 18-3, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, USA 16 August 2018. Media reports on 20 June 2019 state that Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claim to have shot down a US spy drone over Iranian airspace, near Kuhmobarak in Iran's southern Hormozgan province. The US military has not confirmed if a drone was hit. EPA-EFE/Airman 1st Class Tristan Viglian / DIVIDS /HANDOUT 9RW/PA DSN: 368-8887 HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

News

World

Middle East


Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they shot down the drone with a ‘rocket’



Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they shot it down with a ‘rocket’.


Defence

US military Reaper drone shot down over Yemen

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they shot down the drone with a ‘rocket’

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they shot down the drone with a ‘rocket’