Yemeni Forces Down American Drone in Bayda Province

Yemeni military officials claim their air defenses successfully shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Bayda province on Tuesday.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), stated the drone was targeted with a surface-to-air missile during "hostile operations" in Yemeni airspace. General Saree added that footage of the incident would be released soon.

This marks the fifth reported drone downing by Yemeni forces since the beginning of their operations in support of Palestinians facing conflict in Gaza. General Saree reiterated the YAF's commitment to bolstering its defenses against the "joint invasion" by the United States and Britain, and vowed continued operations backing Palestine until the Israeli siege on Gaza ends.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a sophisticated, high-altitude drone capable of carrying a significant missile payload. The loss of such an aircraft represents a potential setback for U.S. operations in the region.