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Sources report that the Houthis have downed another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone.
This marks the third such drone lost to the rebels since March 3rd, and the second since the U.S. began its daily airstrike campaign.
Despite 20 consecutive days of U.S. airstrikes, the Trump administration has offered minimal updates on the operation’s progress. The Pentagon has not held a press briefing in several weeks, and the Defense Department has remained largely silent regarding the ongoing strikes.
On Tuesday, the announced sanctions targeting “financial facilitators, procurement operatives, and companies operating within a global illicit finance network supporting the Houthis.”
Following the downing of the first Reaper in early March, the State Department imposed sanctions, citing weapons smuggling as the justification.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz discussed the airstrikes in a recent interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
“These groups resemble al Qaeda or ISIS but possess advanced cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and highly sophisticated air defenses, all supplied by Iran,” Waltz stated. “Maintaining open sea lanes for trade and commerce is crucial to our national security,” he added.
According to the Congressional Research Service, each MQ-9 Reaper drone costs approximately $30 million. sources indicate that 13 U.S. drones have been lost since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023, though one source suggests the actual figure could be as high as 17 Reapers.
As of December 2024, the U.S. arsenal included 230 MQ-9 Reaper drones, according to a U.S. defense official. The U.S. Air Force states that these drones are primarily used for intelligence gathering but can also be equipped with up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles.
‘ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.