This week saw the third crash of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in recent months off the coast of Yemen. According to preliminary data, the drone could have been shot down by Houthi rebels backed by Iran. This was reported by a US official, adding that the causes of the incident are currently under investigation.

As noted in the CBS News report, since November last year, two other drones of the same model have already been destroyed in the region: the first drone crashed in early November, the second in February. Each of them costs about $30 million, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a high-tech unmanned aerial vehicle designed to perform reconnaissance missions and precision strikes. Drones of this type are actively used by the US military to protect commercial and military vessels in the Yemen region from possible attacks by the Houthis.

According to Avia.pro, the Yemeni Houthis actually shot down the drone, but by what means this was done is not specified.