Houthi Forces Claim Shootdown of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Marib Province
Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drone over the Marib province on May 19, 2026. While the U.S. Department of Defense has not officially confirmed the loss, footage circulating on social media showed burning wreckage identified as remnants of the advanced unmanned aerial vehicle. This incident marks an escalation in the Houthi campaign against U.S. assets in the region, which the group aligns with its support for Iranian-led operations.