The US has lost seven MQ-9 Reaper drones over Yemen in less than six weeks, with three of them shot down last week as Washington ramped up its military campaign against Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
A senior US official said on Thursday that the Houthis had destroyed three such drones in the last week alone, bringing the total number shot down since the campaign began on March 15 to six.
Since October 2023, when the Houthis began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, they have destroyed at least 15 drones, each worth about $28 million. These losses underscore the difficulties faced by the Donald Trump administration in its attempt to quell the activities of the Iran-backed Houthis.
The air campaign began in March 2025 and, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, had already carried out more than 200 strikes within two weeks. To date, according to ABC News, the number has risen to around 750.
The strikes are being carried out using F/A-18 fighter jets based on two aircraft carriers in the region, as well as B-2 bombers from Diego Garcia. The main goal of the operation is to force the Houthis to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, which they claim is being done in solidarity with the Palestinian movement Hamas. However, despite the intensity of the attacks, the US’s success remains limited.
The American strikes have not significantly undermined the military capabilities of the Houthis, whose stocks of missiles, drones and control systems are largely hidden in fortified underground bunkers. The US Congress has been informed that these protective measures are significantly reducing the effectiveness of the campaign. The Houthis, in turn, are using mobile launchers and decoys, which complicates the task of US forces.
Financial impact of the Houthi attacks
The downing of MQ-9 Reapers, which provide real-time reconnaissance, deprives the US of key data for precision strikes, making the operation even less effective.
The financial cost of the campaign is skyrocketing. According to Pentagon estimates, as of early April, the cost of ammunition used amounted to $200 million, and total expenditures could soon reach $1 billion. This includes the cost of deploying additional forces, such as the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. Drone losses are also taking a heavy toll: with 15 Reapers shot down since October 2023, the losses amount to around $420 million, which is comparable to the price of a large warship.
Despite the pressure, the Houthis continue to demonstrate their combat capabilities. Last week, they shot down another MQ-9 Reaper over the province of Sana’a using a locally manufactured missile. Video footage circulated on social media confirms the destruction of the drone, boosting the morale of the militants.
The Houthis claim that their actions are a response to American aggression and support for Israel, which is blocking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera on April 23, 2025, since March, American strikes have killed more than 200 people, including civilians, sparking protests in Yemen and criticism from the UN.
