Houthis U.S.. Houthi supporters chant slogans and hold pictures of Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement, during an anti-U.S. and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, March 17, 2025. Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Photo
The Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen claimed to have shot down a U.S. drone in an escalating conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea as U.S. forces pound them with airstrikes.
President Donald Trump has doubled down on his vow to continue strikes against the Houthis, saying that they would face escalating consequences until the threat they pose to global shipping is neutralized.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment.
Why It Matters
Any success for the Houthi rebels shows that the U.S. strikes against them have not yet proved completely effective.
The force has launched over 100 attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea since October 2023, disrupting a key trade route and challenging U.S. forces defending global navigation. Trump has vowed to "annihilate" the militant group also known as Ansar Allah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
What To Know
"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," Yemen's Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated Tuesday.
The Houthis say that their operations are in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the war between U.S. ally Israel and Hamas since the Islamist group attacked Israel in October 2023.
Trump said Monday that "many" Houthi fighters and leaders have been "decimated by the relentless strikes" of the U.S. military, which continued precision strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, citing the goal of restoring freedom of navigation in the region.
The recent attack comes as the Houthis warned they were strengthening air defenses and claimed multiple attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. The U.S. has not reported damage.
Trump ordered the U.S. military to take "decisive and powerful" action against the Houthis in Yemen on March 15, and warned that the Houthis face escalating destruction, urging Iran to halt its support for the group.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump on Truth Social: "The Iran-backed Houthi Terrorists have been decimated by the relentless strikes over the past two weeks. Many of their Fighters and Leaders are no longer with us. We hit them every day and night — Harder and harder. Their capabilities that threaten Shipping and the Region are rapidly being destroyed. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation. The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran."
Houthi Military Spokesperson Yahya Sarea on Telegram: "The Yemeni army responds to Trump's statement and shoots down an MQ-9 drone. The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will persist to prevent Israeli navigation in the Red Sea and will continue to support the Palestinian people until the aggression against Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted. They will no hesitate, with Allah's Almighty's help, to carry out further defensive operations against all ennemy warships in the coming days."
What Happens Next
The U.S. is likely to continue its military strikes on Houthi forces in Yemen, intensifying its presence in the region to secure maritime routes and pressure Iran. Meanwhile, tensions with Iran threaten to escalate into direct military conflict, particularly if diplomatic efforts fail to yield a new nuclear agreement.
Related Articles
Another Senior Republican Endorses Independent Probe Into Signal Chat
More Republicans Want Pete Hegseth to Resign Than Want Him to Stay-Poll
Iran Reacts to Signal Chat Scandal
Occam's Razor in an Era of Declining Public Trust | Opinion
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 3:55 AM.