Yemen - April 01, 2025 Yemen’s Houthis claim downing of US drone amid escalating airstrikes SHOTLIST MARIB GOVERNORATE, YEMEN (APRIL 1, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT "HOUTHI PRESS OFFICE" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO ---EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (NIGHT SHOTS) 1. VARIOUS OF HIT DRONE BURNING AND FALLING 2. VARIOUS OF FLAMES RISING FROM DOWNED DRONE MARIB GOVERNORATE, YEMEN (APRIL 1, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT "HOUTHI PRESS OFFICE" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO ---EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (DAY SHOTS) 3. WRECKAGE OF DOWNED US DRONE SPREAD ON GROUND AS HOUTHI FIGHTERS INSPECT AREA 4. WRECKAGE OF DOWNED US DRONE 5. MAN CARRYING REMAINS OF DOWNED DRONE 6. US AIR FORCE STAR ON WRECKAGE OF DOWNED DRONE ON GROUND MARIB GOVERNORATE, YEMEN (APRIL 1, 2025) (USERS MUST CREDIT "HOUTHI PRESS OFFICE" HANDOUT, MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO ---EDITORIAL USE ONLY) The Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen announced on Tuesday, Apr. 1, that they shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper combat drone in Marib Governorate, releasing footage of the wreckage. The group stated that the drone was struck by a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile while conducting "hostile operations" in Yemeni airspace. Earlier Houthi group said US warplanes conducted 22 raids recently in areas in the northern provinces of Sanaa and Saada. Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said US warplanes targeted the Jarban area in the Sanhan district in southeastern Sanaa at dawn with five airstrikes, and the Bani Matar district in western Sanaa, with two strikes. The broadcaster added that the Saada province, a key stronghold of the Houthi group, came under 15 US raids during the early hours Tuesday. The US has intensified airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in recent days at an unprecedented rate, resulting in casualties and property damage, according to the group. Trump said March 15 that he had ordered a "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis and later threatened to "completely annihilate them." The Houthis have targeted ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has killed more than 50,300 people. The campaign of airstrikes started after the group threatened to restart targeting ships because of Israel blocking aid entering Gaza.