Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF) announced early Tuesday that its Air Defense Force successfully shot down a United States MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over Marib governorate.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, in a televised statement, confirmed the incident, attributing the action to a domestically manufactured surface-to-air missile. He described the operation as a defensive response to the “continued U.S. aggression against Yemen,” which has led to significant civilian casualties.

This marks the 16th confirmed downing of an MQ-9 drone by the YAF since the onset of Israeli military operations in Gaza in late 2023. General Saree linked the incident to broader regional tensions, reiterating Yemen’s resolve to block Israeli-affiliated vessels from navigating the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. He emphasized the YAF’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, vowing continued support until Israeli actions in Gaza cease. Saree also warned of impending defensive operations against “enemy vessels” in the coming days, signaling a potential escalation in Yemen’s military posture.

The announcement follows reports of U.S. airstrikes across Yemen, intensifying an already volatile situation. According to local sources, U.S. warplanes struck Kamaran Island in the Red Sea, located off Yemen’s western coast. Yemen’s Health Ministry reported that recent U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Hajjah, and the capital claimed 15 civilian lives. In one incident in the al-Tour area of Bani Qais, Hajjah, two people were killed and a child injured when a Hilux vehicle was hit.

The U.S. has defended its military presence in the Red Sea, claiming that its operations aim to secure critical shipping lanes in the Middle East. However, these actions have escalated since Israel resumed its campaign in Gaza, prompting the YAF to ramp up naval operations in response. (ILKHA)