Houthis Claim Downed Saudi F-15 Fighter Jet Over Marib Province

The Houthi group in Yemen has claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province using a locally manufactured missile. According to Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, the aircraft was carrying out military operations when it was hit.

The video released by the Houthis purportedly shows lights in the night sky followed by burning wreckage and debris on the ground, including what appears to be part of an aircraft wing bearing a Saudi flag. However, the location and timing of the footage could not be independently verified.

Saree also accused Saudi warplanes of carrying out more than 450 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces during the week, claiming the strikes caused civilian casualties. He further claimed that Houthi forces later engaged Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets searching for the wreckage and forced them to withdraw.

The incident comes as Saudi Arabia has been warning of Houthi threats to Red Sea navigation, with the group allegedly attempting to target oil facilities and military bases. However, Saudi Arabia's claims that the Houthis attempted to target Mecca were rejected by Saree, who stated that Houthi operations are directed at oil facilities and military bases.