Yemen: The pride of US drone technology, the MQ-9 Reaper, faces a sobering setback in Yemen, where it has become an easy target for Yemeni Air defenses.

During the Battle of the Promised Conquest and the Holy Jihad, Yemen managed to down 13 MQ-9 drones. This raises questions about why the US continues to send these drones into Yemeni airspace for reconnaissance despite the clear risks and repeated losses in various Yemeni provinces.

In this regard, military affairs expert Brigadier General Charles Abi Nader suggests that the US is attempting to gather precise intelligence on Yemen's strategic weapon stockpiles due to its lack of reliable intelligence capabilities within Yemen.

Speaking to Al-Mayadeen channel, Abi Nader highlighted Yemen’s growing and advanced capabilities in both defensive and offensive weaponry. He noted Yemen’s extensive experience in downing drones, including American, Chinese, and other Western-made UAVs. He emphasized that the MQ-9 Reaper is one of the most advanced reconnaissance drones, capable of performing diverse missions, including collecting intelligence over vast areas and carrying out targeted ground attacks.

The successful downing of MQ-9 drones by Yemeni Air Defenses demonstrates significant advancements in Yemen's Air Defense systems, which are critical strategic assets for any nation. Abi Nader stressed that Yemen has effectively engaged in a strategic battle against some of the world's most powerful nations, represented by the US, Britain, and their ally Israel.

Meanwhile, military expert Brigadier General Aziz Rashid stated that the American adversary lacks precise intelligence in its current confrontation with Yemeni Armed Forces. He attributed this to Yemen’s successful neutralization of all advanced US reconnaissance and surveillance drones. Rashid described American attacks in Yemen as hollow and random, reflecting the US military’s bankruptcy and inability to identify genuine targets.

Rashid explained that the US relies on deploying numerous reconnaissance drones across Yemen’s provinces to gather intelligence for targeted strikes. However, locally manufactured Yemeni Air Defenses are effectively countering these efforts.

He also mentioned the Israeli attack on Sana’a International Airport while a representative from the World Health Organization was present, calling it evidence of American and Israeli blindness in obtaining reliable intelligence. Rashid added that the US and Israel’s request for the UN to classify Yemenis as a "terrorist organization" reflects their complete failure to curb Yemen’s growing military capabilities. Yemen continues to advance and adapt its military prowess to meet current challenges.

A Grueling and Exhausting Battle

Political analyst and researcher Fayez Al-Suweiti emphasized that Yemen has disrupted the calculations of its American and Israeli adversaries with its repeated military operations and its ability to gather intelligence on sensitive Israeli targets and enemy movements.

Al-Suweiti explained that while Israel has a rich database of targets in Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, it lacks a comparable intelligence database in Yemen. This leaves its allies—America, Britain, and Israel—fighting the battle "blind." He noted that even enemy media outlets have acknowledged the clear intelligence shortcomings of the US, British, and Israeli forces in Yemen.

Al-Suweiti stated that US officials have repeatedly admitted the difficulty, exhaustion, and futility of their campaign in Yemen. Yemen has become an enigma and a formidable challenge for the US, Britain, Israel, and their Western and European allies.

He highlighted that Yemen, in its sacred battle supporting Gaza—now alone after the cessation of other supporting fronts due to known circumstances—continues to wage a fierce struggle against the Israeli enemy and its allies, inflicting significant material losses.

Al-Suweiti also pointed out that the repeated downing of MQ-9 drones in Yemen has tarnished the reputation of these drones and their manufacturer. This has led to a sharp decline in the global demand for these drones, as countries reconsider purchasing them in light of their repeated failures against Yemen’s locally made air defense systems.

Translated by Almasirah English website