Breaking News: U.S. military confirms downing of MQ-9 drone in Yemen
In a recent development, the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed reports of an aircraft being downed in a desert region of Yemen’s central Marib province. Images show that the MQ-9 drone landed on its belly with its tail assembly disconnected, but there was no clear blast damage.
Marib, located 120 kilometers east of Sanaa, holds significance as it sits on the edge of the Arabian Peninsula’s Empty Quarter Desert. Since the onset of Yemen’s civil war in 2014, the Houthis have seized control over most of the northern regions, resulting in the loss of at least five drones by the U.S. military.
The recent suspected shootdowns of Reapers raise concerns, with experts suggesting that the intact wreckage of the MQ-9 drone may indicate a hard landing possibly due to hijacking or GPS interference by the Houthi Ansarallah Air Defense. The MQ-9 Reaper is a key reconnaissance and strike UAV in the U.S. Air Force’s arsenal.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.