Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province, releasing footage that allegedly shows a missile striking the aircraft followed by images of what the group said was its wreckage at a desert crash site.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the aircraft was targeted while carrying out what the group described as “hostile operations”. He claimed the fighter was hit using a “locally made air-to-air missile”, according to Euronews.
The footage shows what the Houthis describe as a missile intercepting a fighter jet before cutting to a site where armed Houthi fighters are seen around the alleged wreckage. One component appears to display the Saudi flag, while another large section of the aircraft is shown with fighters standing nearby.
The claim has not been independently verified, and Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the loss of an F-15 or provided an immediate response to the allegation. The Houthis also did not specify when the alleged shootdown occurred.
Houthi claim comes amid wider escalation
Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out more than 450 strikes against Houthi positions during the week with 40 in the past 24 hours. The group has released the footage amid a broader escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
In a separate statement carried by Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had also shot down a Saudi armed reconnaissance drone over Marib. He claimed the drone was conducting what the group called hostile operations and said it was brought down using an “appropriate weapon”.
