Houthi rebels claim shoot down of Chinese-made Wing Loong-II drone

Houthi rebels in Yemen claim to have shot down a Chinese-built Wing Loong-II armed reconnaissance drone near the coastal district of Mocha in the Taiz Governorate. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree stated the medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle was allegedly belonging to Saudi Arabia and was targeted with “appropriate weaponry” while conducting hostile operations.

The Wing Loong-II is an advanced iteration of the Wing Loong 1, manufactured in China by the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

This incident follows a joint statement from G7 foreign ministers, including representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union. The G7 condemned ongoing Houthi military strikes within Yemen and against Saudi Arabia, citing threats to regional stability, global energy security, and maritime rights in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. The ministers also called on Iran to cease its support and arming of the Houthi movement.