US Loses 7 MQ-9 Drones in Yemen Since March

Post by: Omar Nasser

Photo : AFP

Since March 15, the United States has lost seven MQ-9 Reaper drones in Yemen. These drones are used by the US military to help spot and target weapons used by the Houthi rebels. The drones also help in airstrikes. Each MQ-9 drone costs around $30 million. A US official said that these seven drones were lost but did not explain how it happened.

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At the same time, the US Navy also lost a fighter plane. An F/A-18E warplane fell off the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea. The accident happened while the plane was being moved inside the ship. One sailor got hurt in the incident. The Navy said the plane and the towing tractor both fell into the sea. The ship and its other planes are still in action, but the Navy is looking into what happened.

This is the second F/A-18E to be lost in less than six months. The first was accidentally shot down by another US ship, the USS Gettysburg, late last year. Thankfully, both pilots of the plane survived.

The USS Harry S. Truman is one of two US aircraft carriers in the Middle East. The US military has been striking the Houthi rebels almost every day. The US Central Command said that US forces have hit over 800 targets and killed hundreds of Houthi fighters, including some leaders.

On Monday, Houthi media reported that a US airstrike hit a migrant detention center in the city of Saada, which is controlled by the Houthi rebels. At least 68 people were killed in that strike. The next day, the Houthis reported more airstrikes in the area of Bani Hashish, northeast of the capital, Sana’a.

The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, started attacking ships in late 2023. They said they were doing this to support Palestinians in Gaza after the October attack by Hamas. These attacks have caused problems for ships trying to pass through the Suez Canal, which is an important route for global shipping.

The US started airstrikes against the Houthis during President Biden’s time in office, and the strikes have continued under his administration. Before Biden, President Trump also promised to continue military action against the Houthis until they were no longer a threat to global shipping.

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