Houthis Claim to Have Shot Down an 'American Drone'

Houthi militants in Yemen claim to have shot down an American drone outside of Yemen. The New York Times reported, citing two American officials, that the Pentagon is investigating the cause of a U.S. military reconnaissance drone's crash on Monday morning in coastal waters near Yemen. According to the New York Times, the officials, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed. The Iran-backed Houthi militants stated on Monday that they shot down the drone near the port city of Hodeidah in western Yemen. If the Houthis' claim is verified, this would be the second time this group has shot down an American drone since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. The Reaper drone is a key component of the U.S. military's aerial reconnaissance fleet. Al Jazeera also reported that the Houthis claimed to have struck a 'British' cargo ship, which is believed to have sustained significant damage. According to the report, a British maritime security company named Ambrey confirmed that the 'Rubymar,' a British-registered cargo ship flying the Belize flag and operated by Lebanon, was attacked in the late hours of Sunday. The newly reported actions attributed to the Houthis come after the United States announced on Saturday that it had struck five military targets of the Houthis, including an unmanned underwater vehicle, in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The Houthis' actions against commercial vessels, which have caused insecurity in maritime trade in the Red Sea, have faced military responses from the U.S. and some of its allies. Some experts say that the Houthis' attacks on commercial ships are carried out with intelligence and military support from the Islamic Republic and at its request. On Monday, February 12, the Houthis also attacked a cargo ship carrying corn for Iran. An American military official at that time said, without providing details, that the ship likely was not hit by projectiles. The European Union has begun a mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea. There was a missile attack on an American commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis' attack on the cargo ship 'Rubymar' may lead to its sinking. The U.S. response to the unveiling of missile systems in Iran: we will use all 'deterrent tools.'