Houthis Saudi F-15 shot down
Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed that it shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet. The claim was made on Wednesday amid a renewed escalation between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the aircraft was brought down while conducting operations over Yemen’s Marib province. He claimed that a locally manufactured missile was used against the aircraft.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the reported loss of an F-15. The Houthis also did not provide details about the fate of the pilot. The claim therefore remains independently unverified.
The Houthi claim came only hours after Saudi Arabia said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the drone was destroyed before it could enter the restricted airspace around the holy city. The interception reportedly took place on Tuesday evening.
Saudi Arabia described the security of Mecca, the holy sites and pilgrims as a major security priority. The incident also prompted security alerts in parts of the kingdom.
The Houthis have rejected Saudi accusations that they deliberately targeted Mecca. Houthi officials said their operations were directed at Saudi military facilities and oil-related infrastructure rather than Islamic holy sites.
Saudi authorities, however, have described the reported drone interception as a serious security incident. The Saudi-led coalition said it would take necessary deterrent measures following the incident.
The reported F-15 incident comes as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces has intensified again in Yemen.
The Houthis have claimed several attacks against Saudi targets in recent days. They have also alleged that Saudi forces carried out more than 450 airstrikes in Yemen during the week, although that figure has not been independently verified.
The latest developments come amid wider instability across the Middle East. The strategic Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb shipping routes have also become a major concern as fighting intensifies in the region.
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