The United States regularly uses MQ-9 Reaper multi-purpose drones in the Middle East. This year, Russian planes damaged two UAVs, but they managed to return to base. But the Houthis, supported by Iran, managed to sink one Reaper in the Red Sea.
Iranian-controlled media were the first to report the destruction of the UAV. Then a video was published showing the destruction of the air target. A Soviet 2K12 Kub anti-aircraft missile system was used to strike the UAV worth $30 million.
Later, the US Institute of Naval Research confirmed the destruction of the MQ-9 Reaper, citing an official from the US Department of Defense. The incident occurred on November 8, 2023. When the missile hit, the drone was flying in international airspace over international waters off the coast of Yemen.
