A spokesperson for the Iran-backed Yemen-based Houthi terror group claimed that the group shot down an American MQ-9 drone on Monday, over X, formerly Twitter.
The Houthi official claimed that the drone had flown over the Saada airspace as part of a joint American-Israeli campaign, adding the claim that the attack had resulted in the deaths of five civilians.
#معركة_الفتح_الموعود_والجهاد_المقدس pic.twitter.com/oxFHDq0aw2
— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) September 30, 2024
Israel's strikes on Houthi territory
IDF sources told the Jerusalem Post that the military's airstrikes on Houthi territory had been the most powerful since the beginning of the war.
According to Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al Mayadeen and confirmed by the IDF, the targets of the strikes were oil reserves in Ras Issa and also the port of Hodeidah.
Additional targets included power plants and a seaport used to import oil, which the Houthis used to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil, IDF reported.
The Houthis confirmed that four of its terrorist fighters were killed in the strike.
The terror group have repeatedly claimed to have shot down US MQ-9 drones, despite the US denying such reports.
About the MQ-9
The MQ-9 drone is reportedly a multi-million dollar surveillance aircraft, with Forbes reporting its value at around $30 million. According to the US Air Force, the drone can fly as high as 50,000 feet and has a range of 1,150 miles.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.