Yemen's Houthis reported the destruction of a second US MQ-9 Reaper drone in a day, bringing the total number of drones of this type shot down to 21 since the conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. At the same time, the death toll from US airstrikes on the Ras Issa oil terminal on the Red Sea coast has exceeded 100 people, and continues to rise, according to Houthi sources. The attack, carried out on April 17, 2025, was the deadliest in the US military campaign against the Houthis, which began last March. The port and terminal suffered severe damage, far exceeding the destruction from previous Israeli bombings aimed at disabling the facility.

According to Houthi sources, most of the victims are port workers, hospitalized with burns covering up to 90% of their bodies. Yemen’s medical system, exhausted by years of war, is virtually incapable of providing effective care to such patients, which exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe. The port of Ras Issa, located 55 kilometers north of Hodeida, plays a key role in Yemen’s economy: about 70% of the country’s imports and 80% of humanitarian aid pass through it. The destruction of the terminal’s infrastructure, including storage tanks for 3 million barrels of oil, threatens to further deteriorate the population’s food and medicine supplies.

The Houthis’ success in destroying the MQ-9 Reaper underscores their ability to counter U.S. forces. The drone, valued at about $30 million, was shot down by what appears to be a homemade anti-aircraft missile over Sanaa. Videos released by the Houthis show burning debris that they identified as parts of the drone. The Houthis have previously claimed to have shot down 20 such drones, 16 of which were destroyed in a campaign linked to support for the Palestinian movement in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

The US strikes on Ras Issa, according to Reuters, were a response to ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which they carry out in solidarity with Palestine. Houthi TV channel Al Masirah published footage of powerful explosions and a fire at the terminal, caused by a hit to fuel tanks. According to The Guardian, the number of injured reached 171 people, and the attack was recognized as the most destructive in the US campaign under President Donald Trump.

The escalation in Yemen comes amid a leak of information about American operational planning. According to The New York Times, in March 2025, The Atlantic published correspondence from a Signal chat room in which senior US officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed strikes against the Houthis. The leak, which included flight schedules for F/A-18 aircraft and MQ-9 drones, caused outrage among US military officials, who called it a threat to operational security.

For Yemen, the impact of the attack on Ras Issa is exacerbating an already dire situation. According to the World Bank, more than 24 million Yemenis need humanitarian aid, and the damage to infrastructure is estimated at billions of dollars. The destruction of the port could lead to higher food and fuel prices, which would hit the most vulnerable people. The Houthis, for their part, have vowed to continue attacking shipping in the Red Sea until they stop supporting Israel in the conflict with Palestine.