# US MQ-9 Reaper Crashes in Djibouti; Houthi Role Suspected 2026-08-09T17:56:58+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A US MQ-9 Reaper drone has crashed near Chabelley Airbase in Djibouti, prompting a security alert from the US embassy on Sunday. The embassy said it was 'tracking an aircraft in distress' and advised people to avoid the area. Multiple media reports identified the aircraft as a US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper that crashed shortly after takeoff. The cause remains unknown, with no confirmation of mechanical failure or external attack. The crash comes amid heightened tensions around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a strategic shipping route. Chabelley Airfield is a key US base for drone operations in the Horn of Africa. Some speculation points to Yemen's Houthi movement, which has downed US drones and attacked Red Sea shipping before, but no claim or evidence has emerged linking them to this incident. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com - english.mathrubhumi.com Tags: Bab el-Mandeb, Djibouti, Houthis, MQ-9 Reaper, Red Sea, US drone Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/us-mq-9-reaper-drone-crashes-in-djibouti-houthis-suspected/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/us-mq-9-reaper-drone-crashes-in-djibouti-houthis-suspected/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.