The Yemeni Armed Forces released footage detailing the moment that their air defense systems fired at and took down an MQ-9 drone over al-Hodeidah.

The drone is a multirole top-of-the-line US-made and operated aerial vehicle, equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance systems. It has been used in multiple high-profile assassinations in West Asia, awarding it a formidable reputation. However, factions of the Axis of Resistance have downed three MQ-9 drones since November 8, 2023, including the one destroyed on Monday. 

Members of the Armed Forces are seen collecting the debris produced by a direct hit to the target, which had plunged toward al-Hodeidah's coastline in the early morning hours.

#WATCH | Yemeni Armed Forces publish footage of the #Yemeni air defenses shooting down a US MQ9 drone in the skies of #Hodeidah Province with a locally-made surface-to-air missile while it was launching an attack on the region.#Yemen pic.twitter.com/CHQSZUZUp6

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 19, 2024

The wreckage shows just how effective the YAF's air defense tactics are, as the drone was seen peeled to the bone with only its 20m wide chassis remaining intact.

On Monday morning, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that the YAF downed the drone, adding that the Yemeni Naval forces targeted the UK-owned RUBYMAR bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden. Later, Saree said that the RUBYMAR sank after its crew were evacuated. He also added that the YAF's Navy targeted and hit US bulk carriers "Sea Champion" and "Navis Fortuna" in the same area.

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Previously, the Yemeni military had unveiled and paraded several locally produced air defense systems, which are near replicas of Iranian-made air defense systems and weapons.

Among those surface-to-air missiles put on display on September 22, 2023, were the locally-produced Bareq-1 and Bareq-2 missiles. The missiles resemble the Iranian Taer line of missiles, which are used on a multitude of staple air defense systems.

A man-portable air-defense missile, dubbed Saqer-2, was also seen at the parade. The missile can be easily transported and launched to take down close-range targets, such as low-flying drones. It is also similar to the Iranian 358 surface-to-air missile.

Third MQ-9 downed 

The first downing of a US MQ-9 drone was recorded by the Yemeni Armed Forces on November 8, 2023.

Since then, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq also dropped a US-operated MQ-9 drone over the eastern Governate Diyala, on January 19, 2024.

Alone, the Yemeni Armed Forces have downed a total of six MQ-9 drones since October 2017. A recent post by the YAF's military media recounted six events in which its air defenses targeted and hit the infamous US aerial vehicle. 

1. Location: Sanaa; Date: October 2017
2. Location: Al-Hodeidah; Date: June 2019
3. Location: Dhumar; Date: August 2019
4. Location: Marib; Date: March 2021
5. Location: Yemeni territorial waters; Date: November 2023
6. Location: Al-Hodeidah; Date: February 2024

Fox News reports the price of MQ-9 drones at $32 million, although the estimate is outdated and does not account for inflation. The fact that multiple factions of the Axis of Resistance have now proved their ability to take down the high-tech system sheds light on the Resistance's ability to confront the world's most advanced military, using available and limited resources.

Read more: Iraqi Resistance shoots down US MQ-9 drone amid CENTCOM silence