The Yemeni Armed Forces have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones in less than six weeks, a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against Yemen, the Associated Press reported.
According to defense officials, three of the drones were shot down in the past week — suggesting the Ansarullah fighters’ targeting of the unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen has improved. The drones were doing attack runs or conducting surveillance, and they crashed both into the water and onto land, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.
The U.S. has increased its attacks on Yemen, launching daily strikes since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign. He promised to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the “Houthis” cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor.
A defense official said that that the increase in U.S. strikes can add to the risk to aircraft, but added the U.S. will take every measure possible to protect troops, equipment and interests in the region.
The sophisticated drones, built by General Atomics, cost about $30 million each, and generally fly at altitudes of more than 40,000 feet (12,100 meters). Ansarullah leaders have consistently touted the strikes in public statements. One of the defense officials said the U.S. lost Reaper drones on March 31 and on April 3, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 22.
U.S. senators, meanwhile, are raising concerns about civilian casualties caused by the American strikes in Yemen. Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tim Kaine of Virginia wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday questioning whether the Trump administration is “abandoning the measures necessary to meet its obligations to reducing civilian harm.”
Specifically, they questioned reports that U.S. strikes at the Ras Isa fuel terminal in Yemen last week potentially killed more than 70 civilians.
“Military leaders agree that ingraining civilian harm mitigation practices within U.S operations leads to better outcomes and that civilian casualties actually undermine the mission that the military has been sent in to do,” their letter said.
In addition to downing the drones, the Yemeni forces have been persistently firing missiles and one-way attack drones at U.S. military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Yemeni forces have been waging persistent missile and drone attacks against pro-Israeli ships in the region in support of Gaza against the Zionist war.
The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah Movement, Sayyed Abdul Malik Al-Houthi, condemned the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza, calling it “the most horrific war crime of the modern era.”
Source: Al-Manar English Website
