Houthis Claim to Have Shot Down Saudi F-15 Fighter Jet

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet, dealing what they described as a major blow to Saudi Arabia. The Houthis officially claimed that a locally manufactured missile was used to target the fighter aircraft.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on social media: “With the help and grace of Allah, the Yemeni armed forces succeeded in shooting down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet.” He said the aircraft had been carrying out attacks in support of military operations in the airspace over Marib province.

The Houthi spokesman also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out 450 attacks. Yahya Saree said the jet was targeted with a “locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.”

The Houthi spokesman also rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that the Houthi rebels had targeted the holy Islamic city of Mecca. He said, “Our operations target Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and military bases, which are located far from the holy sites.”

Iran has allegedly surrounded Saudi Arabia and isolated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He reportedly called US President Donald Trump twice last week, but the United States refused to assist him in the war against the Houthis.

The Houthi rebels have now reportedly reached the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and disrupted Saudi oil shipments. They have also continued launching missiles and drones at energy facilities in Saudi Arabia’s southern provinces.

In addition, attacks from Shia militants in Iraq from the north reportedly forced the closure of a major oil pipeline.