Yemen’s Ansurullah Forces Cause ‘Catastrophic’ Damage to British Ship: Shoot Down American Reaper Drone

Military Watch:

Yemen’s Ansurullah Forces Cause ‘Catastrophic’ Damage to British Ship: Shoot Down American Reaper Drone

February-20th-2024

MQ-9 Drone and Ship Rubymar


The British merchant ship Rubymar has suffered “catastrophic” damage, forcing the crew to abandon ship, according to a statement from Yemeni military spokesman Yahya Saree. 

Yemeni Ansurullah Coalition forces also claimed to have shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over a Red Sea port, following the confirmed previous downing of another Reaper off the country’s coast on November 8. 

The Rubymar’s owner was registered as the UK-based Golden Adventure Shipping, and was at the time of the attack carrying cargo from the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria. It was targeted with “a number of appropriate naval missiles,” according to the Yemeni spokesman. 

He elaborated: “The ship suffered catastrophic damage and came to a complete halt,” the Yemeni spokesman added. “As a result of the extensive damage the ship suffered, it is now at risk of potential sinking in the Gulf of Aden. During the operation, we made sure that the ship’s crew exited safely.” 

The reported successful strike closely coincided with Western reports that the Ansurullah Coalition has unveiled its first underwater drones, which had the potential to significantly further complicate U.S. and British naval operations against Yemeni targets.