The air defenses of the Yemeni Houthi movement known as Ansar Allah reported the downing of a United States MQ-9 reconnaissance and attack drone. A spokesperson for the group, Yahya Saria, claimed the operation was executed with a missile fired from Yemen. Saria stated the drone was shot down while it was allegedly conducting a hostile mission against Yemen on behalf of Israel, with the incident purportedly taking place near the port city of Hodeidah.
Reports circulated that in the morning hours of February 19, the Houthis claimed to have damaged or potentially sunk the British vessel Rubymar after an attack in the Gulf of Aden. Separately, Al Masirah, the Houthi-affiliated broadcaster, announced that an attack targeted positions associated with the movement inside Yemen, with the report issued from broadcasts in the United Kingdom and the United States.
In the wake of renewed clashes linked to the broader regional conflict between Palestinian groups and Israel, Ansar Allah stated it would pursue operations aimed at Israeli territory and would impede passage of ships connected to Israel through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait until military actions in Gaza reach a conclusion. The claimed stance underscored a pledge to intensify maritime pressure in the region as hostilities continued.
Meanwhile, Greece announced it would assume command of a newly formed European Union maritime mission in the Red Sea, signaling a shift in regional security arrangements and coalition responses to ongoing tensions.
Note: The narratives above reflect statements and claims reported by the involved parties and media outlets at the time. Independent verification of these events remains limited, and conflicting reports have emerged from various sources. Attribution for the reported claims follows the organizations or channels cited within the reports. Source attributions include public statements by the Ansar Allah movement, broadcast reports from Al Masirah, and noted actions in naval logistics and security communications as reported by regional media outlets.