Yemeni air defense forces intercepted and downed a U.S.-made MQ-9 Reaper drone in Al-Jawf province, northern Yemen, as it allegedly violated Yemeni airspace early on Friday, according to local media.
Yemeni sources reported that the drone, valued at approximately $32 million, was engaged in a reconnaissance operation when it was targeted.
This marks the twelfth MQ-9 Reaper drone claimed to have been intercepted by Yemeni forces. In a video circulated online, a flaming aircraft can be seen descending, followed by images of burning debris scattered across the area. The U.S. military has acknowledged these reports, confirming the incident and stating that it is conducting an investigation but refrained from providing further details.
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree previously announced the downing of another MQ-9 Reaper in September over Sa'ada province, citing the use of a locally-manufactured surface-to-air missile.
The incident occurs amid Yemen’s vocal stance on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Following Israel’s campaign against Gaza, Yemeni forces declared their support for Palestine and stated that their operations would continue in response to Israeli military actions in Gaza. Yemen’s Ansarullah movement leader, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, has also expressed a willingness to confront the United States directly, framing it as a stance of solidarity with Palestine.