Houthis Down Third US Reaper Drone Amid Trump Administration's Persistent Airstrikes

Houthis in Yemen have shot down another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, marking the third such incident since March 3. The escalation comes amidst the Trump administration's relentless daily airstrikes, which have continued for 20 days straight.

This latest drone takedown underscores the intensifying conflict, as the Pentagon remains conspicuously silent about the operation. There hasn’t been a press briefing in weeks, leaving the public largely in the dark about the status of these strikes.

To add fuel to the fire, the State Department recently announced sanctions targeting individuals and companies involved in weapons smuggling and financial facilitation for the Houthis. These sanctions were implemented after the rebels shot down their first Reaper drone in early March.

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz weighed in on the matter during an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation." Waltz likened the Houthis to extremist groups like al Qaeda and ISIS but noted their access to advanced weaponry, courtesy of Iranian support. "Keeping the sea lanes open and secure is critical to our national security," he emphasized.

Now, here’s the kicker: MQ-9 Reaper drones aren’t exactly cheap. Each one costs a cool $30 million, according to the Congressional Research Service. Since October 2023, the Houthis have reportedly shot down 13 U.S. drones, though sources suggest the actual number might be closer to 17. With 230 Reapers in the U.S. arsenal as of December 2024, it begs the question—how many more are we willing to lose?

These drones, primarily intelligence gatherers, can also be armed with up to eight laser-guided Hellfire missiles, making them a versatile yet highly vulnerable asset in this increasingly heated conflict.

As the airstrikes and drone losses pile up, the Trump administration might need to reassess its "shoot first, ask later" strategy. After all, even the most expensive toys have their breaking point.