U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone Crashes Off Yemen Amid Houthi Claims of Downing

The Pentagon is investigating the incident as tensions escalate between the U.S. and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, marking a potential second drone loss since November.

An MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed near Hodeidah, Yemen, with Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for shooting it down.
U.S. officials are investigating the crash, which marks a potential second loss of a Reaper drone to Houthi forces since November 2023.
The incident escalates tensions between the U.S. and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, amid ongoing violence in the region.
The U.S. has conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The downing of the drone is seen as part of a broader escalation of violence between the U.S. and Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.