Fatir-1, illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) air defense force has managed to shot down two drones over the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib less than 24 hours apart.
The first drone, a US-made Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, was shot down over the district of al-Jubah late on December 7. Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Houthis, said that the drone was downed with a “suitable weapon”.
The drone was most likely of the ScanEagle 2 variant which is mainly used for reconnaissance missions. Several Scan Eagle 2 systems were reportedly delivered to Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
This was the second ScanEagle drone to be shot down by the Houthis’ air defenses over Ma’rib in December, and the overall eight this year.
- On June 20, the first drone was shot down over Sirwah district;
- On June 21, the second drone was shot down over Sirwah district;
- On August 14, the third drone was shot down over Medghal district;
- On September 27, the fourth drone was shot down over Medghal district;
- On November 9, the fifth drone was shot down over al-Jubah district;
- On November 13, the sixth drone was shot down over al-Jubah district;
- On December 4, the sevenths drone was shot down over al-Jubah district.
The second drone, a Chinese-made armed Rainbow CH-4, was shot down over the district of al-Wadi on December 8 afternoon. According to Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, the combat drone was targeted with a ground-to-surface missile that has not been unveiled, yet.
The CH-4 was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to carry out reconnaissance and combat missions. The Saudi military purchased an unknown number of the drone a few years ago.
This was the second CH-4 combat drone to be shot down by the Houthis’ air defenses over in December, and the overall sixth this year.
- On February 12, the first drone was shot down over the district of Meghdal in Ma’rib;
- On March 23, the second drone was shot down over an unspecified part of Ma’rib;
- On May 23, the third drone was shot down over the district of al-Maraziq in the northern province of al-Jawf;
- On October 6, a the fourth drone was shot down over the district of al-Jubah in Ma’rib.
- On December 1, the fifth drone was shot down over the area of Alamashya between the northern province of Saada and Amran.
The Houthis boosted their air-defense operations recently in an attempt to put an end to the Saudi-led coalition’s intense bombing campaign on Yemen. The group also stepped up its drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and resumed ground operations in Ma’rib.
It seems that both the Chinese and the Americans are arming the Saudis and the Yemeni government in Marib.
Considerable losses for the backwards saudi regime. Exactly what they deserve.