Sana’a/Marib: Yemen’s Iran‑backed Houthis said on Wednesday that their fighters shot down a Saudi F‑15 fighter jet over Marib province, claiming they used a locally made missile to bring down the warplane.
The claim, which could not be independently verified, came as air raids and cross‑border attacks surged across the region.
The Yemeni Armed Forces, the military wing of the Iran‑aligned group, described the jet as supporting Saudi operations when it was hit.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces succeeded in shooting down a Saudi F15 fighter jet while it was carrying out hostile operations in support of its military mobilisations in the airspace of Marib province, using a locally made air-to-air missile,” a Houthi military spokesman said in a statement shared on X.
The group added that Saudi aircraft had launched more than 450 strikes across Yemen in the past week, as reported by India Today.
Saudi Strikes Across Yemen
According to the Houthi statement, Saudi warplanes — including F‑15s and Typhoons flying from Khamis Mushait and Taif bases — hit targets in Taiz, Lahj, Al‑Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and Al‑Bayda. The Houthis said civilians were among those killed and injured in the raids.
The group said its air‑defence units later engaged two Saudi formations of F‑15 and Typhoon jets over Marib. It claimed the Saudi aircraft, which were searching for the downed jet’s wreckage, were struck with locally made missiles and forced to pull back.
Hours later, the Yemeni Armed Forces said it also shot down a Saudi Wing Loong‑2 armed reconnaissance drone over Marib, alleging the unmanned aircraft was conducting hostile operations when it was targeted.
Escalation Near Mecca
Fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has surged this month. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group attacked Saudi sites, including the port of Yanbu and an airbase at Khamis Mushait.
Saudi officials said air defences destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, calling it a “red line.” The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and accused Riyadh of using the claim for propaganda.
Energy Market Concerns
The spike in violence is rattling oil markets. Traders warn that a prolonged shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s East‑West Pipeline could cut up to 4% of global supply, especially if Strait of Hormuz disruptions persist after the US‑Israeli war with Iran.
Riyadh has led a coalition against the Houthis since 2015. A ceasefire had eased fighting in recent years, but attacks have jumped sharply this month, with Houthi operations spreading along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and near the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait.
Houthi officials cited the F‑15 claim as proof of stronger air defences.
Mohamed Abdul Salam, a member of Ansar Allah’s political bureau, called the shoot‑down a “major scandal” for Saudi Arabia and said it showed Yemen’s air defences are improving. He warned Saudi pilots could face higher risks on future missions over Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has not confirmed losing an F‑15.
