The Houthi militia announced today the downing of an American MQ-9 aircraft over Al Bayda Governorate in central Yemen, while it was carrying out hostile missions in Yemeni airspace.

This came in a statement by the group’s official spokesman, Yahya Saree, who confirmed that the Houthi air defenses were able to shoot down the plane as part of the Al-Aqsa Flood Battle.

According to the statement, this is the thirteenth MQ-9 aircraft that the Houthis have been able to shoot down since the beginning of the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood, in which the group announced its support for Hamas in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Saree added that the plane was carrying out hostile missions, without providing additional details about the exact location or timing of the downing of the plane, and the United States has not yet issued any official comment regarding these allegations.

The MQ-9 is considered one of the advanced American aircraft used for intelligence and offensive missions.

The Houthi militia had previously announced the downing of several American aircraft of the same model, at a time when the group seeks to demonstrate its military strength and ability to confront American military movements in the region.