In a significant escalation of tensions in the region, Yemeni air defenses have successfully shot down a second U.S.-made MQ-9 drone in less than 72 hours. This latest incident, which took place over the province of Marib, follows a previous downing of the same type of drone on December 28th, indicating a heightened capability and resolve of Yemeni forces to defend their airspace and challenge Western military operations.

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According to Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Sari, the drone was engaged in “hostile missions” within Yemeni airspace. It was downed by a Yemeni-made surface-to-air missile, a testament to the growing sophistication of Yemen’s military capabilities, despite years of relentless aggression. Sari confirmed that this is the fourteenth such drone to be downed during operations in support of the Palestinian resistance and in protest against the Zionist siege of Gaza.

The Yemeni military stated that these actions are a direct response to the ongoing Israeli oppression of the Palestinian people, perpetrated with the complicity of the United States and the United Kingdom. The message underscores the interconnectedness of struggles against imperialism and highlights the solidarity of the Yemeni people with the Palestinian cause.

“The armed forces will continue their operations in support of Gaza,” Sari stated. He clarified that these military actions will only cease when the Zionist entity ends its military offensive against the Palestinian territory and lifts the blockade, allowing the free flow of food, water, medicines, fuel, and other essential supplies into the occupied territory.

The downed MQ-9, which costs upwards of $30 million, is primarily used for surveillance but is also capable of carrying missiles and has been implicated in bombings in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. The fact that Yemen has now downed two of these advanced military aircraft in such short succession highlights the increased capability of Yemeni forces to challenge the US military-industrial complex.

Furthermore, these events coincide with a series of other attacks by the Ansar Allah movement (Houthi) in Yemen. Just this Tuesday, Yemeni forces reportedly launched cruise missile and drone attacks against the U.S. aircraft carrier Harry Truman. Also targeted were Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and an Israeli power plant, showing a willingness to strike at the heart of Israeli and Western imperial interests.

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