Yemen rebels claim to intercept US-made spy drone in Marib

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday claimed to have shot down a US-made spy drone in the central province of Marib.

In a statement, rebel spokesman Yahya Saree said an American-made ScanEagle spy plane was brought down in al-Jubah district in Marib, adding that the aircraft was carrying out “hostile actions” in the area.

The spokesman said the drone was downed with a “suitable weapon” without specifying it.

On Tuesday, the Houthi rebels claimed to have destroyed another US spy plane in the same province.

Houthis did not clarify the side using the spy plane but the group has in the past repeatedly blamed the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen.

There was no comment from US authorities or the Saudi-led coalition on the rebel claim.

In recent months, Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich Marib province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises with 233,000 people killed, nearly 80% or about 30 million needing humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar