Yemen: The ongoing controversy surrounding the advanced MQ-9 Reaper drone continues to plague the US military as the number of shootdowns in Yemeni airspace rises, reaching 12 within the past year. This surge in downed drones has led to significant embarrassment and questions about the transparency of the US military’s response.

On Friday, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced the downing of the 12th MQ-9 drone in Al-Jawf province, with military media releasing footage of the incident. While US news agencies sought comments from the US military, officials largely avoided discussing the matter.

The Associated Press reported that the US military acknowledged awareness of the videos showing a burning drone falling and a field of scorched debris in Al-Jawf. However, officials stated that they were investigating the incident and declined further details.

In September, when three MQ-9 drones were downed in one week, the Pentagon appeared visibly unsettled, acknowledging the loss of one drone "in the Middle East” without disclosing the exact location. They later admitted to the loss of two drones over Yemen within a week, despite earlier attempts to contain information by discussing the recovery of drone debris.

The downing of American MQ-9 Reaper drones in Yemen began on October 1, 2017, with Yemeni Air Defenses shooting down the first one over Sana’a, creating a major shock for the US-Saudi coalition. Since then, Yemen has intercepted additional MQ-9s, including in Hodeidah (2019), Dhamar (2019), and Marib (2021).

The MQ-9 Reaper, valued at around $30 million, is a technologically advanced drone with high-resolution cameras, a 360-degree radar system, and the ability to carry out surveillance and targeted strikes. It boasts a flight range of 3,000 kilometers and can fly up to 45,000 feet for up to 40 hours.

With Yemen’s participating in the Battle of the Promised Conquest and the Holy Jihad supporting Palestine, more MQ-9 drones have been downed. Recently, India canceled its planned purchase of these drones from the United States, possibly influenced by Yemen’s successful interceptions.