Yemen’s Houthi armed group in recent weeks, shot down seven US Reaper drones worth more than $200m in recent weeks, according to Al Jazeera.
This marks the most significant material loss yet in Washington’s campaign against the fighters.
The drones were struck down between March 31 and April 22, according to defence officials.
Lately, the Houthis have stepped up efforts to target American aircraft operating over Yemen.
Three of the drones were destroyed in the last week alone, suggesting an improvement in the Houthis’ ability to strike high-altitude US aircraft.
The drones – each costing about $30m – were conducting surveillance or attack missions when they crashed into water or land.
A defence official said the strikes occurred on March 31 and on April 3, 9, 13, 18, 19 and 22, according to The Associated Press news agency.
Dozens of civilians have been reported killed in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen since March 15 after US President Donald Trump ordered daily strikes against the group.
Central Command spokesperson Dave Eastburn said on Thursday that US forces have struck more than 800 targets, destroying command centres, weapons depots and air defences, and killing hundreds of Houthi fighters and leaders. This claim could not be independently verified.
