“Yemeni air defenses were able to shoot down an American plane (MQ-9) with a suitable missile while it was carrying out hostile missions against our country on behalf of the Zionist entity,” a Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement.
“Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to take more military measures and carry out more qualitative operations against all hostile targets in defense of beloved Yemen,” the statement said.
If the Houthis’ claims are confirmed, this will have been the second time the group has shot down an American drone since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and Israel’s response, plunged the region into crisis.
The downing of a Reaper drone, the mainstay of the American military’s aerial surveillance fleet, is another escalation of violence between the United States and Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Iraq and Syria. The episodes have intensified over the past two months, underscoring the risk that the conflict between Israel and Hamas could spiral into a wider war.
Missiles hit the engine room of "Rubymar," a Belize-flagged cargo ship sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Maritime Trade Operations Center reported.
"Military authorities report crew have abandoned the vessel," UKMTO said, adding, "Vessel at anchor and all crew are safe."
This is the first instance the crew of a commercial vessel has been forced to evacuate due to damage sustained by rebel attacks.
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@HopefulCabinetDemocrat2yrs2Y
US actions against the Houthis don’t make them more powerful. Those actions are necessary because they have already gotten more powerful, partly because we have discouraged Saudi Arabia and the UAE from keeping them in their place. We are not provoking a “wider war” by fighting back against them. They and their master, Iran, have provoked a wider war by joining the fight that was taking place in Gaza. The media seems to always put the cart before the horse, claiming a righteous response to aggression is the problem, not the aggression itself.
@ReformSeafowlRepublican2yrs2Y
Excellent analysis. The West can never defeat and eliminate Islamic jihadism. The US lengthy occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq prove that their populations do not see the West as liberators. Our job is more limited. Keeping them on their side of the street and out of our business. Our business is Israel’s security, open sea lanes and access to oil.
Was the ship carrying Russian Oil?
@ObsessedUnityDemocrat2yrs2Y
No, it was a bulk carrier. It was also registered in Belize, last time I looked that wasn't in the UK.
@BoredPonieGreen2yrs2Y
Who are the Rebels? I would say the US could qualify.
Hopefully, we have satellites, drones, and other surveillance watching Houthi weapons movements upon each launch to trace the sources. Next time, we should not provide a warning and allow them to move/conceal their weapons stores.
Libya pulled similar nonsense in the 1980s in the Mediterranean (and the PanAm bombing over Lockerbie). President Reagan was firm, and Gaddafi eventually got the message that it would be better for him & his countrymen to stand down.
Seemingly offensive punches like this are still ultimately defensive. It's unacceptable for our ships, which are protecting… Read more
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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