US Reaper drone shot down near Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, defense official says

The U.S. says it was shot down in international airspace.

ByMatt Seyler and Luis Martinez ABCNews logo
Thursday, November 9, 2023
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A U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone was downed in international airspace near Yemen on Wednesday, according to a U.S. defense official.

"We can confirm that a U.S. military MQ-9 remotely-piloted aircraft was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Houthi forces," the official said.

An MQ-9 Reaper takes off at Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field in Fort Drum, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2012.
U.S. Air Force, FILE

Media outlets in Yemen have claimed Houthis militants were responsible.

This is a developing story. please check back for updates.

The video is from a previous report.