Houthi group claims downing of 19th US MQ-9 drone since November 2023 VIDEO

On April 13, Yemen's Houthi group announced that it had successfully downed another U.S. MQ-9 drone, marking the 19th such incident since November 2023. 

The latest strike took place in the airspace of Hajjah province, located in northwestern Yemen. The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, made the announcement during his speech broadcast by the Houthi-controlled al-Masirah TV, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to Sarea, the drone was brought down using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. The Houthi spokesperson also emphasized that despite continued U.S. military operations in the region, the group's military capabilities remain intact.

"The ongoing U.S. aggression has not crippled our forces," Sarea stated, reaffirming the group's resilience against external military pressures. He also reiterated the Houthis' support for the Palestinian people, asserting that their operations would continue until the "Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and the siege on it is lifted."

The United States resumed its air campaign against Houthi forces on March 15, focusing on deterring attacks on U.S. and Israeli naval assets in the Red Sea. Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched multiple attacks targeting Israeli interests as part of their broader solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The downing of the MQ-9 drone, which costs over $30 million, is part of an ongoing series of strikes that underscore the Houthis' advanced military capabilities.

In addition to targeting drones, the Yemeni forces have carried out strikes on key Israeli military sites. This included launching two ballistic missiles, including a hypersonic missile, aimed at an Israeli military base and Ben-Gurion Airport. A Yemeni drone also targeted a vital Israeli facility in these operations.

By Khagan Isayev