Houthi success against drones shows weakness in US armor

Houthi Success Swatting Reaper Drones Like Flies Exposes Chinks in US Military’s High-Tech Armor

Sputnik International

19:03 GMT 14.09.2024 (Updated: 19:07 GMT 14.09.2024)

Ilya Tsukanov

Yemen’s Houthi militia has now downed over a quarter billion dollars’ worth of General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers. Sputnik asked a leading regional affairs observer what will happen if the humbling trend continues.

The latest Reaper shootdown took place last Saturday while the drone was carrying out intelligence-gathering activities over Marib province in central Yemen. The US military initially refused to confirm the loss, holding out until Friday.

The Houthis have shown that they “have the capacity to counter one of the most advanced technologies” in the US’s arsenal, and can outcompete the Pentagon on costs too. The success of the Houthi anti-drone campaign may undermine the justifications for continued US operations and presence in the region.

Former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe admitted the failure of efforts by the West to bring the Yemeni militia to heel. The Houthi promise to continue their Red Sea blockade until peace is achieved in Gaza.

In recent events, Yemen’s Houthi militia has successfully taken down General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers, highlighting vulnerabilities in the US military’s technology. With over a quarter billion dollars’ worth of drones destroyed, the Houthi anti-drone campaign raises questions about US power projection and effectiveness in the region. The Houthis have demonstrated the ability to counter advanced US technologies, posing a challenge to Washington’s strategic interests.

The US faces a dilemma in dealing with the Houthis, balancing the risk of regional confrontation with the desire to maintain dominance. The cost-efficient methods employed by the Houthis question the sustainability of relying solely on technological superiority. The failure to contain the militia’s activities has embarrassed Western forces, prompting reevaluation of their strategies. Former naval commander Tom Sharpe acknowledges the Houthi success and the ongoing blockade in the Red Sea until peace is achieved in Gaza.

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