Houthis Claim to Down Saudi F-15 Fighter Jet in Yemen
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have released video footage claiming to show a downed Saudi F-15 fighter jet, which they say was shot down using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. The alleged downing coincides with a wider regional escalation of the war between Iran and the United States.
CNN's military analyst Cedric Leighton, a retired US Air Force colonel, said the markings on the tail of the downed F-15SA in the video were 'consistent' with Saudi Arabian F-15 aircraft. The alleged downing would mark only the second time one of the US-built aircraft has been shot down by hostile fire.
The Houthis have recently stepped up their fighting against Yemen's Saudi-backed government and have expanded their area of control, capturing a Red Sea port city in Yemen last week and an island near an important waterway. The Houthi advances are putting pressure on global energy supplies as they threaten key infrastructure that allows for the export of Saudi oil and refined products.
The US Air Force has received several F-15s from Saudi Arabia, including a recent order in December 2020, according to a US Air Force press release. The loss of the Saudi jet would be significant, but its confirmation is still unverified by CNN due to lack of geolocation and official comment from Saudi or US authorities.