ADVERTISEMENTThe United States has lost seven MQ-9 REAPER drones on Yemen in less than six weeks, it emerged, with three slaughtered in last week while Washington degenerates its military campaign against the Houthi rebels aligned by Iran.
High -term and long -term planes – each cost around $ 30 million (26 million euros) – were slaughtered during an expensive offensive launched by President Donald Trump on March 15.
According to names of the nameless defense, drones were involved in strike and surveillance missions when they were slaughtered by the Houthis, losses occurring both on land and at sea.
According to an official, a hostile fire is probably the cause, although investigations are underway.
The United States has carried out almost daily air strikes on Houthi positions, the central order confirming that more than 800 targets have been affected, including command centers, weapon storage facilities and air defense systems.
“These strikes have … killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and many Houthi leaders,” spokesman for the central command Dave Eastburn said on Thursday.
Houthi attacks highlight their growing ability to hit advanced American platforms. A defense official confirmed that drone losses had taken place on March 31 and on 3, 9, 13, 18, 18 and 22.
Civilian victims are alarmed
In addition to drone losses, concerns are increasing in Washington on the civil balance sheet of American intensified strikes.
In a letter to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine wondered if the administration “abandoned the necessary measures to comply with its obligations to reduce civil damage”.
“The civilian victims undermine the mission that the soldiers have been sent,” the senators wrote, citing reports that recent strikes from the Ras Isa oil terminal may have killed more than 70 civilians.
However, despite the growing control of the offensive, the US military continues to maintain an aggressive posture in the region. A naval presence was assembled, including two aircraft carriers, the USS Harry S. Truman and the USS Carl Vinson, and their associated strike groups.
The Truman is currently working in the Red Sea, while the Vinson is positioned in the Gulf of Aden. Defense Secretary Hegseth will plan to extend Truman’s deployment more.
The increased presence is part of an effort to contain the threat of the Houthis and ensure freedom of navigation through the Red Sea, a key global trade route. The Houthis have launched many missiles and drones with us and allied naval ships in recent months, although no one has done a direct blow.
The rebel group claims that its attacks are part of a wider campaign to put pressure on Israel to put an end to its war in Gaza. From November 2023 to January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant ships, flowing two and killing four sailors, seriously disturbing a corridor which manages approximately 1 billion of dollars (882 billion euros) in the world trade per year.
