US Reaper drone shot down by Iran-backed Houthis, marking the third incident since early March

Reports indicate that Houthis in Yemen have successfully shot down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone. 

This marks the third drone that has been shot down by the rebels since March 3 and the second to be targeted since daily strikes by the U.S. began.

Despite the U.S. conducting airstrikes daily for the past 20 days, there has been limited communication from the Trump administration about the status of the operation. The Pentagon has not held a press briefing in weeks, and information regarding the ongoing strikes has been scarce.

Following the debilitating strikes, President Trump has issued a warning to the Houthis, urging them to cease their attacks: “Stop shooting at us and we will stop shooting at you.”

The State Department recently announced sanctions on individuals and entities aiding the Houthis, including financial facilitators and procurement operatives. These measures come in response to the Houthis shooting down the initial Reaper drone in early March, a violation attributed to weapons smuggling.

The U.S. has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen for 20 days straight. (AP Images/Getty Images)

President Trump has shifted his focus to Iran following the decimation of over 30 Houthi targets in recent U.S. airstrikes.

During an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation” last month, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz emphasized the sophistication of the Houthis’ weapons, which he claimed were supplied by Iran. He stressed the importance of safeguarding sea lanes and promoting trade and commerce to ensure national security.

An MQ-9 Reaper drone with Customs and Border Protection awaits the next mission over the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2022 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. (John Moore/Getty Images)

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Estimates suggest that MQ-9 Reaper drones have a price tag of around $30 million each. The Houthis have reportedly downed 13 U.S. drones since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, with some sources indicating the number could be as high as 17 Reapers. 

An official from the U.S. defense department disclosed that as of December 2024, the U.S. possessed 230 MQ-9 Reaper drones. While these drones are primarily used for intelligence gathering, they can also be armed with up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles, as detailed by the U.S. Air Force.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.