Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed that its forces shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen’s Marib province, adding a new dimension to the escalating military confrontation between the group and Saudi Arabia. The claim came hours after Saudi authorities said their air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the holy city of Mecca.
According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, the Saudi F-15 was brought down over Marib using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. Houthi-linked reports said the fighter was involved in Saudi-led air operations over Yemen. However, the reported loss of the aircraft has not yet been independently confirmed by Saudi authorities or other independent sources.
The reported incident follows a significant increase in air operations over Yemen. Saree claimed that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter aircraft had conducted more than 450 airstrikes during the week across several Yemeni areas, including Taiz, Lahij, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and Al-Bayda. He also claimed that Houthi forces confronted Saudi aircraft over Marib while they were searching for the reported F-15 wreckage.
The developments came against the backdrop of heightened tensions around Mecca. Saudi Arabia’s military coalition said on September 16 that its air defences had intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it could enter the restricted airspace surrounding the holy city. Saudi officials described the security of Mecca as a critical concern.
The Houthis have rejected Saudi allegations that the drone was deliberately aimed at Mecca. The group has described such accusations as false, while Saudi authorities maintain that the drone was intercepted before reaching the city’s restricted airspace. The conflicting accounts mean that the exact intention behind the drone flight remains disputed.
The reported F-15 incident is particularly significant because the aircraft is a major component of Saudi Arabia’s combat aviation fleet and has been extensively used in operations connected with the Yemen conflict. Previous Houthi claims involving Saudi fighter aircraft have also sometimes been disputed, making independent confirmation important before the latest report can be treated as an established aircraft loss.
The latest developments highlight the rapidly changing security situation around Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where drone and missile attacks are occurring alongside intensified air operations. With both sides issuing competing accounts of recent military actions, further statements from Saudi authorities and independent verification will be important in determining whether the reported F-15 loss occurred and the circumstances surrounding it.