Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for shooting down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Marib province, marking the second such incident in just 72 hours. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea stated that the drone was downed using a locally-manufactured surface-to-air missile, bringing the total number of U.S. drones they have claimed to 14 during their ongoing campaign.
Key Developments:
- The U.S. military has not yet confirmed the latest drone loss but has acknowledged intensified engagements with Houthi forces in recent months.
- U.S. airstrikes targeted Houthi positions in Sanaa and Yemen’s coastal areas in retaliation.
- The conflict has escalated amid the broader regional tensions involving Israel, Hamas, and Iran-backed groups.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge, condemning Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza, which reportedly killed 17 Palestinians on New Year’s Day.
On the geopolitical front, President-elect Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages, while an IDF investigation has raised concerns over operational lapses and discipline issues among troops on both northern and southern fronts.
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