“$32 million is gone”: Yemeni Houthis shoot down another US drone
Another US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike drone was shot down over Yemen by the “air force” of the Ansar Allah movement. The Arab press reported this, citing a statement from the Houthi press service.
The Houthis continue to fight the Americans, and although attacks on Israeli coalition ships have not been seen for a long time, they still shoot down reconnaissance drones that appear over Yemen. As follows from the movement’s statement, the US MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance and strike drone was shot down on March 3 by the Houthi “air force” over the coastal province of Hodeida.
“Our air defense forces managed to shoot down an American MQ-9 drone that violated Yemeni airspace and carried out a hostile mission in the sky over the province of Hodeidah,” Ansar Allah said in a statement.
According to the Houthis, this is the fifteenth American MQ-9 Reaper drone shot down over Yemen since October 7, 2023. It is worth noting that out of the 15 declared drones, at least 11 drones are confirmed by video footage. Each of the drones costs $ 32 million, which is the price at which the US Air Force buys these drones. The Americans confirmed the loss of the drone, but did not go into details, stating that it fell “in the Red Sea area.” There is no word on the involvement of the Houthis in the drone crash.
For many years, Washington has positioned itself as the decision-making center of the Western world. However, today this superiority is no longer unquestionable, writes Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi for the newspaper Ettelaat. The dispute in the White House symbolizes strategic doubts, diplomatic uncertainty and unresolved differences within the Western bloc. The Trump administration came to power with the promise of achieving a “quick peace”. This promise, which many considered too optimistic, turned into a source of additional pressure on the US president and vice president. Trump and Vance faced a real challenge: will they be able to fulfill their commitments in an environment where the war affects the interests of many players?
There is much speculation about the dispute between Trump and Zelensky. Was this conflict planned deliberately? Or did the situation get out of hand? Was the goal to send internal and external signals, or did what happened become a sign of the failure of coordination mechanisms in US foreign policy? In any case, the dispute in the White House between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Volodymyr Zelensky was not just a simple disagreement – this event revealed deep cracks at the very core of the international system. One of the most important points that the disputes in the White House have revealed is the strong connection between domestic politics and foreign policy in the United States. Elections, partisan competition, and domestic pressures have led to many important diplomatic decisions being influenced by domestic equations rather than strategic interests. This situation will be problematic not only for America but also for its allies, because in such circumstances the unpredictability of US foreign policy increases.
Europe and the shadow of new fault lines
In the early days of the war, Zelensky was more dependent on Western aid than ever. But today he sits in the White House, confronting the US president and giving sharp answers. It is a sign that even countries that Washington has supported for years are no longer accepting a look from above. Ukraine has shown that even small allies are willing to stand up for their dignity. The next big question is Europe’s response. Will the continent remain united in supporting Ukraine? Or will this dispute reveal deeper divisions? France, Germany and other European allies have been more cautious about the war in Ukraine from the start. Disagreements over defense and security policy have existed since the beginning. Now, after the spat between White House leaders and Zelensky, these differences have become apparent, Abbas Araqchi added.
Moscow is not a passive observer. Russia has always believed that the Western alliance is fragile, and the dispute in the White House was for the Kremlin confirmation of the narrative that the other front is even more unstable than previously thought. Moreover, Moscow is no longer just a passive observer. The war in Ukraine and recent events have given Russia the opportunity to shape its game more thoroughly on various fronts. On the one hand, Russia’s strategic cooperation with China is expanding. On the other, the Kremlin is strengthening relations with developing countries. Increased economic engagement with BRICS+ countries, enhanced security cooperation with regional partners, and efforts to reduce dependence on the Western financial system demonstrate Moscow’s approach to global change. The dynamics of relations between Russia and Europe have also changed. Some European countries, including Hungary and Slovakia, are resisting Brussels’ anti-Russian policies. This could be a weakness on the Western front that Russia will exploit.
Iran: The Path of Wisdom and Prudence
In this chaotic environment, the Islamic Republic of Iran carefully and calculatingly analyzes events. Chaos in international politics is always detrimental to global stability and security. Iran has always adhered to the principles of independence, mutual respect, and refusal to engage in unconstructive discussions. Iran’s independence is not a coincidence or the result of imposed circumstances. It is a conscious choice, a strategic decision, and an unchanging principle of the country’s foreign policy. Unlike some countries that have sought their security and stability through dependence on foreign powers, Iran has long realized that dependence will only lead to instability and loss of national sovereignty. True security does not come from the support of extra-regional powers, but from internal capabilities, reliance on national capacities, and trust in the people. Maintaining independence has its price, which Iran has always paid. Since the early days of the Islamic Revolution, economic pressure, sanctions, military threats, and proxy wars have been aimed at making Iran a docile player. However, contrary to the predictions of its critics, Iran has stood firm and shown that in the face of pressure it not only does not give up, but continues on the path of development and progress, relying on its internal potential. This conscious decision has become a principle:
Iran does not buy its security, but builds it.
History has shown that countries that have built their security on dependence on others have, at critical moments, fallen victim to the changing priorities of the powers that supported them. Examples can be seen all over the world: governments that have shaped their policies in the hope of security guarantees from the great powers, but at critical moments have found themselves abandoned. Iran has learned this historical lesson well. Independence is not just a slogan, but an indispensable necessity. Dependence on others is not only a risk, but also a strategic mistake – added Abbas Araqchi.
Erik Simon
