Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Tuesday that they had shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone, even as the U.S. continued its campaign of heavy airstrikes against the group.The reported incident took place over Yemen’s contested Marib governorate, while U.S. airstrikes targeted areas around Sanaa, the rebel-held capital, and Saada, a Houthi stronghold.U.S. President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to both the Houthis and their key backer, Iran, asserting that the group had “been decimated” by the strikes that began on March 15.“Many of their Fighters and Leaders are no longer with us,” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. “We hit them every day and night — Harder and harder. Their capabilities that threaten Shipping and the Region are rapidly being destroyed. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation.”He added: “The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran.”The rebels stated that they had shot down a drone over Marib governorate, a region rich in oil and gas fields still controlled by allies of Yemen’s exiled central government. Footage circulating on social media showed flames illuminating the night sky, accompanied by a Yemeni man’s claim that a drone had been brought down.Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, confirmed in a prerecorded video that the group had downed an MQ-9 drone.Saree explained that the rebels had used “a suitable locally manufactured missile” to target the drone. The Houthis possess surface-to-air missiles, including the Iranian-made 358 missile, which can take down aircraft.Iran has denied supplying arms to the Houthis, though Tehran-manufactured weapons have been discovered both on the battlefield and in sea shipments bound for the Shiite rebel group, despite a United Nations arms embargo.The U.S. military acknowledged reports of the Reaper drone’s downing but declined to comment further when approached by The Associated Press.General Atomics Reapers, which cost around $30 million each, can operate at altitudes exceeding 40,000 feet (12,100 meters) and remain airborne for over 30 hours. The aircraft have been used by both the U.S. military and the CIA for years in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Yemen.The Houthis claim to have shot down 20 MQ-9 drones over Yemen, including 16 during their campaign tied to the Israel-Hamas war. However, the U.S. military has not disclosed the total number of drones lost in the region.An Associated Press analysis indicates that the new American offensive against the Houthis under Trump appears to be more extensive than previous operations under former President Joe Biden. The campaign has expanded beyond targeting launch sites to striking key personnel and conducting bombings in cities.This wave of airstrikes, which the Houthis report has killed at least 61 people, began after the group threatened to resume attacks on “Israeli” ships in response to Israel blocking aid to Gaza. The Houthis’ broad definition of “Israeli” vessels means a wide range of ships could be at risk.Since November 2023, the Houthis have targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two and killing four sailors. They have also launched attacks on U.S. warships, though none have been hit so far.These assaults have significantly raised the Houthis’ global profile as they contend with economic challenges and suppress dissent within Yemen, a nation devastated by over a decade of conflict.