Yemen’s Houthi movement on Wednesday claimed that it had shot down a Saudi fighter jet while it was carrying out operations over Marib province. The group said the warplane was targeted using a locally manufactured air-to-air missile. The claim was made by a Houthi military spokesman, who described the incident as an operation against Saudi military activities in the area.
According to the spokesman, the aircraft was a Saudi F-15 fighter jet and was allegedly involved in what the Houthis described as hostile operations in support of Saudi military mobilisation. The statement was shared on social media by the group’s military communication channels. However, there was no immediate independent confirmation of the reported shoot-down or details about the condition of the aircraft and its crew.
The Houthi statement comes amid continued tensions involving the group and Saudi-backed forces operating in Yemen. Marib remains strategically important because of its location, energy resources and military significance in the country’s prolonged conflict. Fighting and air operations in and around the province have previously made it a major flashpoint between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
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The spokesman also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out around 450 strikes, although the statement did not provide details about the period covered by that figure or independent evidence to support the claim. The Houthis have frequently accused the Saudi-led military coalition and allied forces of conducting air operations against their positions, while Saudi Arabia and its partners have described their actions as military operations against the movement.
The reported incident could mark a significant development if independently verified, given the military importance of a Saudi fighter aircraft and the Houthis’ claim that it was brought down by a domestically produced missile. The group has previously claimed attacks against aircraft, ships and military targets as part of its broader confrontation with regional powers. Such claims are often difficult to verify immediately because access to conflict zones is limited and opposing sides issue competing accounts.
No immediate response from Saudi authorities was cited in the report, and further information about the alleged aircraft loss, possible casualties or the exact location of the incident was not available. The claim remains unverified, while the reported accusations of large-scale Saudi airstrikes are also awaiting independent confirmation. Developments are expected to depend on official statements from Saudi Arabia and additional information from the conflict area.
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