Marib (South24 Center)

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On Tuesday (April 1), Yemen's Houthi group announced it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone while it was flying over Marib Governorate in northern Yemen, in its latest attack targeting US military assets.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated in a post on X that their air defenses downed the drone "while it was conducting hostile operations”, adding it was hit with a locally-made missile.

Sarea noted that it was the 16th US drone the group has downed since the start of what they call the ’Battle of the Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad‘ in support of Gaza.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) did not immediately comment on the incident.

The development comes as the US continued its airstrikes targeting Houthi-linked sites in Sanaa and northern Yemeni governorates, since the operation was launched on March 15 under direct orders from President Trump.

Despite the intensity and scale of the US strikes, the Houthis continue launching missiles toward Israel and the USS Truman aircraft carrier, while avoiding any precise disclosures about their losses amid an official media blackout regarding the results of the repeated US strikes.

UN Envoy Visits Tehran

On Monday (March 30), UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg stressed the urgent need to de-escalate and prevent further deterioration in Yemen and the region.

Grundberg's statement came during his visit to Tehran where he held meetings with senior Iranian officials including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

"The recent escalation in Yemen highlights the need to strengthen efforts to stabilize Yemen and pave the way towards a sustainable future, by addressing the influential regional dynamics," Grundberg said. “All parties involved must contribute to creating conditions that not only open the door to mediation, but also address the urgent issues at hand," he stressed.

The envoy's office stated that his Tehran trip aimed to discuss the latest developments in Yemen and the region.