Houthis claim to down American drone, report US-led airstrikes

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim they have shot down an American-made MQ-9 drone flying over the country, marking potentially the latest downing of the multimillion-dollar surveillance aircraft.

The US has responded with airstrikes over Houthi-controlled territory, the rebels say.

The US military does not immediately respond to a request for comment over the Houthi claim. The rebels offer no pictures or video to support the claim as they have in the past, though such material can appear in propaganda footage days later.

In a pre-recorded video message, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree says the Houthis shot down the drone over Yemen’s Marib province. He offers no details on how the rebels down the aircraft.

Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years.

The Houthis “continue to perform their jihadist duties in victory for the oppressed Palestinian people and in defense of dear Yemen,” Saree says.

Following the claim, the Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel reports multiple US-led airstrikes near the city of Ibb.