US loses third $30 million Reaper drone off Yemen coast

A US MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed off the coast of Yemen this week, possibly downed by Houthi rebels, according to a US official. The cause is being investigated.

The Iran-backed Houthis have downed two other MQ-9s since November, the first in early November and then another in February. According to the Congressional Research Service, each drone costs about $30 million.

The drones flying off the coast of Yemen are part of the U.S. military’s efforts to help defend commercial and military ships from continued attacks by the Houthis.

Since the outbreak of Israel’s war with Hamasthe Houthis have attacked or threatened more than a hundred commercial or military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis claim their attacks are a protest against Israel’s war against Hamas and U.S. support for Israel, but U.S. officials point out that many of the ships the group is targeting have no connection to Israel.

As a countermeasure, the US and Britain, with support from other countries, held four rounds of joint airstrikes to destroy Houthi capabilities in Yemen. In addition, the US military regularly conducts self-defense strikes against Houthi missiles and drones when it sees the Houthis preparing to attack.

The US also launched a defensive maritime operation, called Operation Prosperity Guardian, with more than two dozen partner nations, to defend commercial ships against Houthi attacks.

So far, only one Houthi attack has resulted in deaths. An attack in March on the Liberian merchant ship True Confidence killed two crew members.

The pace of attacks has slowed in recent weeks, but attacks continue, including Thursday when the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Central Command said in a statement that there were no injuries or damage as a result of that attack.

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said earlier this month that the US “will certainly continue to do everything we can to protect commercial shipping through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and of course do whatever we need have for our strengths.”