The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Monday night the downing of a US MQ-9 drone over Ma'rib Governorate

Sanaa, April 1 (RHC)-- Yemeni Armed Forces have announced the downing of a U.S. MQ-9 drone over Ma'rib Governorate, the 16th drone downed by the country since 7 October 2023.

“In retaliation to the American aggression against our country, our air defenses successfully shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was carrying out hostile missions in the airspace of Ma'rib Governorate, using a suitable, locally made missile,” the Yemeni Armed Forces said in a statement issued on Monday.  

“This is the sixteenth drone our air defenses have successfully shot down during the Battle of the Promised Victory and the Holy Jihad in support of Gaza,” it added.

The statement said the U.S. forces “over the past hours, have launched a number of raids on various areas, resulting in martyrs, injuries, and damage to citizens' properties.”

The Yemeni Armed Forces affirmed that they will persist in preventing Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas and will continue to support the Palestinian people until the aggression against Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted.

“They will not hesitate, with Allah Almighty's help, to carry out further defensive operations against all enemy warships in the coming days,” the statement noted.

On Sunday night, the United States carried out fresh acts of aggression against Yemen to force the Arab country to stop its support for Palestinians in Gaza.  American warplanes conducted thirteen intense airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.  The Yemeni media reported eight attacks on Sana’a’s Al-Malikah area and five strikes on the Sarf area.

The attacks followed earlier strikes that left one civilian dead and twelve wounded in two districts of Sana’a.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel’s ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end.