Photo: UAV MQ-9 Reaper
Another American MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed in Yemen, according to footage shown on Wednesday, May 29.
Yemen's Houthi rebels, who continue to attack ships in the Red Sea region due to the war between Israel and Hamas, have released footage they say shows a drone being attacked by a missile. surface-to-air class over the desert region of the central province of Yemen – Marib. It is noted that such a loss of a drone is the third case this month, reports Associated Press agency.
Images analyzed by AP show the MQ-9 lying “on its belly” in a barren desert, and its tail section is separated from the fuselage. At least one of the drone's doors appears to have opened after landing, although the UAV remained largely undamaged and without any obvious signs of an explosion.
One of the images shows the date of the photo as last Wednesday.
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There were no identifying marks on the drone.
Authorities in Marib, held by allies of Yemen's government-in-exile, have not confirmed the drone's presence in the area.
Marib Province, Yemen
A U.S. Defense Department official, who agreed to share intelligence on condition of anonymity, told the AP that "The U.S. Air Force did not lose a single aircraft operating in the Central Command area of responsibility USA.” The official refused to elaborate.
The CIA is also believed to have flown Reaper drones over Yemen, both to monitor combat operations and as part of the campaign against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the militant group's local affiliate in Yemen. The CIA declined to comment when contacted by the AP.
A single Reaper drone costs about $30 million. It can fly at altitudes of up to 15,000 meters and has a power reserve of about 24 hours before landing.
The Houthis have recently stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 residents there, according to the Hamas-controlled strip's health ministry.
On Wednesday, May 29, the Houthi military spokesman, General Yahya Sariya, admitted that the rebels had attacked the cargo ship Laax the day before.
Two rocket attacks were reported on the ship, one flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and one belonging to Greece – in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen. One private security firm said radio data from the ship suggested water had entered the ship's compartments as a result of the shelling.
"The crew are reported to be safe, and the ship is proceeding to the next port of destination,” reported the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center.
BAGNET recalls that the war in Gaza began after militants Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages.
Prepared by: Sergei Daga