Houthis release footage purportedly showing wreckage of downed Saudi F-15

Yemen’s Houthis said Wednesday they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province using a locally manufactured missile, a claim that Saudi Arabia had not immediately confirmed.

Video released by the group 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. The location and timing of the footage could not be independently verified.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the aircraft was carrying out military operations over Marib when it was hit. He also claimed Houthi forces later engaged Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets searching for the wreckage and forced them to withdraw.

Saree accused Saudi warplanes of carrying out more than 450 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces during the week, claiming the strikes caused civilian casualties.

The spokesman also rejected Saudi allegations that the group had attempted to target Mecca, saying Houthi operations were directed at oil facilities and military bases. Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city’s restricted airspace.

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