Houthi group says it downs another US-made MQ-9 drone over northern Yemen

ISTANBUL

The Yemeni Houthi group on Monday said it shot down another US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone flying over northern Yemen.

In a statement, the group's military spokesman Yahya Saree said the US drone was intercepted by the group's air defense while flying over Saada province.

Saree said that the group has downed 11 US drones since it began its military operations in support of Gaza, which has been under Israeli attack since last October.

The US military is yet to comment on the Houthi group's announcement.

Saree added that on Sunday Israel, in support of the US, carried out 17 airstrikes on civilian facilities in the Al-Hudaydah province in western Yemen.

"The Israeli aggression (on Yemen) won't deter the Yemeni people through its armed forces from performing the duty towards the Palestinian people," said Saree.

Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,600 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last October.

The conflict spread to Lebanon with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 960 people and injured over 2,700 others since Sept. 23.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar