3 hrs ago
Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Downed After Mecca Drone Intercept
The Houthis said they destroyed a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen.
They said they used a locally made missile to do this.
Saudi Arabia had not confirmed that the jet was destroyed.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia said it had stopped a Houthi drone near Mecca.
The Houthis denied attacking Islamic holy sites.
The Houthis also said Saudi aircraft carried out more than 450 attacks during the week.
They said those attacks affected several areas of Yemen and caused civilian casualties.
The claims came from opposing sides and were not independently verified.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib Governorate.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile was used.
The claim was not independently verified, and Saudi Arabia had not confirmed it.
Saudi Arabia claimed hours earlier that it had shot down a Houthi drone near Mecca.
The Houthis claimed Saudi F-15 and Typhoon jets conducted more than 450 airstrikes in one week, causing civilian casualties.
- Who
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Saudi Arabia, and Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree.
- What
- The Houthis claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15, while Saudi Arabia claimed it intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca.
- Where
- The alleged F-15 incident occurred over Marib Governorate in northeastern Yemen; the alleged drone interception occurred near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- The claims were reported on September 16, 2026; the drone interception was reported hours before the F-15 claim.
- Why
- The claims were made amid ongoing Saudi-Houthi hostilities and competing allegations about air attacks.
Houthi Claims
Saudi Claims
F-15 incident
Houthi Claims
The Houthis said their forces shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib Governorate using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile.
Saudi Claims
Saudi Arabia had not confirmed the alleged F-15 shootdown when the reports were published.
Drone incident near Mecca
Houthi Claims
The Houthis denied attacking Islamic holy sites, including the area near Mecca.
Saudi Claims
Saudi Arabia claimed it had shot down a Houthi drone near Mecca, prompting alarm across the country.
Airstrike allegations
Houthi Claims
The Houthis claimed Saudi F-15 and Typhoon jets carried out more than 450 airstrikes across several Yemeni areas in one week, causing civilian casualties.
Saudi Claims
The reports did not provide an independent confirmation or a Saudi response to the Houthi airstrike figure.
Key facts
- Alleged aircraft downing
- The Houthis claimed a Saudi F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Marib Governorate.
- Reported weapon
- Yahya Saree said a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile was used.
- Verification status
- The F-15 claim had not been independently verified, and Saudi Arabia had not confirmed it.
- Saudi claim
- Saudi Arabia said it shot down a Houthi drone near Mecca.
- Reported airstrikes
- The Houthis claimed Saudi F-15 and Typhoon jets conducted more than 450 airstrikes during the week.
- Reported targets
- The Houthis said the strikes targeted Taiz, Lahij, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada, Al-Bayda, and other areas.
- Report date
- September 16, 2026
Sources
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