US military faces heavy drone losses in Yemen as Houthi rebels gain ground $200 million in less than six weeks

In a significant blow to the U.S. military campaign in Yemen, Houthi rebels have successfully shot down seven American Reaper drones in less than six weeks, costing the Pentagon over $200 million.

The drones, used for both surveillance and attack missions, were brought down during operations over Yemen, with some crashing into the sea and others onto land, according to defence officials, cited by American media, per Caliber.Az.

The increase in drone losses appears to signal that the Houthis' ability to target unmanned aircraft is improving. In fact, three of the drones were downed in the past week alone, suggesting a more refined targeting capability. Despite these setbacks, the U.S. has continued its military response, launching daily strikes against Houthi positions since mid-March, following an order from President Donald Trump to expand operations. Trump has vowed to use "overwhelming lethal force" to stop the Houthi attacks on key shipping routes in the region.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Dave Eastburn reported that the U.S. has hit over 800 Houthi targets, including command-and-control centres, air defence systems, and weapons manufacturing sites, claiming hundreds of Houthi casualties, including many leaders. However, while officials acknowledge hostile fire as the likely cause of the drone losses, investigations are still ongoing.

The Reaper drones, costing approximately $30 million each, are high-tech aircraft built by General Atomics and typically operate at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet. Despite the ongoing efforts to protect U.S. assets, these recent losses highlight the escalating risks in the conflict zone.

Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have expressed growing concerns over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing military strikes. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, and Tim Kaine have written to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, questioning whether civilian casualties are being adequately minimised, particularly in light of recent reports indicating that more than 70 civilians may have been killed in an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel terminal in Yemen.

Beyond targeting drones, the Houthis have also continued to launch missiles and attack drones at U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, although no successful strikes have been reported.