In a significant escalation of the conflict in Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed to have shot down a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet. The incident reportedly took place over the Marib province of Yemen. To support their claims, the military media platform of the Houthi rebels has released video footage purportedly showing the wreckage of the downed aircraft, while however, it's important to note that Saudi Arabia has not yet provided any official confirmation regarding the loss of an F-15 aircraft, and the Houthi claims have not been independently verified.
Details of the Wreckage Video
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement on the social media platform X, asserting that the Saudi F-15 was conducting military operations in the airspace of Marib when it was targeted and brought down by Houthi forces. The video footage released by the rebels shows what appears to be the burnt remains of an aircraft scattered across a desert landscape, while large sections of the plane are seen lying on the ground, with smoke and fire visible in some parts of the debris. The Houthis specifically pointed out that the wreckage includes the tail section of the aircraft, which clearly displays the flag of Saudi Arabia and various markings in Arabic.
Claims of Extensive Saudi Airstrikes
The Houthi rebels have further alleged that Saudi Arabia has intensified its aerial campaign, conducting more than 450 airstrikes across various regions of Yemen over the past week. According to the organization, these strikes involved the use of F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets. The rebels claim that these aircraft were operating from the Khamis Mushait and Taif airbases. The airstrikes reportedly targeted several Yemeni provinces, including Taiz, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada, and Al-Byda. The Houthis have also accused the coalition of causing civilian casualties and injuries during these operations, though these claims remain unverified by independent sources.
Confrontation Over the Crash Site
According to the Houthi account, following the downing of the F-15, two squadrons of Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets arrived over Marib. Their mission was allegedly to locate the wreckage of the crashed aircraft. The Houthis claim that they engaged these searching aircraft with local missiles, forcing the Saudi jets to retreat from the area. A few hours later, the Houthis issued another statement claiming to have shot down a Saudi Arabian Wing Loong-2 armed drone over Marib, further intensifying the reported military activity in the province.
Rising Tensions Between Saudi Arabia and Houthis
Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels have seen a sharp increase in recent days. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the group has launched multiple drone and missile attacks against various Saudi targets. These targets reportedly include the Yanbu oil port located on the Red Sea coast and the Khamis Mushait airbase. The situation escalated further when Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca. Saudi officials stated that the drone was neutralized before it could enter the restricted airspace of Mecca. Riyadh described this incident as a serious provocation and a violation of a 'red line'.
In response, the Houthis denied targeting Mecca and accused Saudi Arabia of using the incident for propaganda purposes. Saudi Arabia has been leading a military coalition against the Houthis in Yemen since 2015. While the intensity of the conflict had decreased in recent years, the latest series of claims and counter-claims suggests a significant resurgence in violence and hostility between the two sides.