Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Downed Amid Mecca Drone Dispute
The Houthis said they destroyed a Saudi fighter jet over Marib in Yemen.
They said they used a missile made locally to hit the jet.
They released a video showing what they said were the jet being hit and its burning wreckage.
The video has not independently proved that an F-15 was destroyed.
Saudi Arabia did not confirm losing a fighter jet.
Saudi officials said they stopped a Houthi drone near Mecca before it entered restricted airspace.
They called the alleged drone attack a serious threat to the holy sites.
The Houthis denied sending an attack toward Mecca and called the accusation false.
The claims happened during renewed fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition.
Yemen’s Houthis claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 over Marib province using a locally manufactured missile.
A roughly four-minute Houthi video purportedly shows the jet being targeted, followed by fire, smoke and charred wreckage in the desert.
Saudi Arabia has not officially confirmed the alleged loss of an F-15, and the claim remains independently unverified.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace.
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca, while Yahya Saree accused Saudi aircraft of carrying out more than 450 strikes across Yemen in one week.
- Who
- Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, Saudi Arabia’s Saudi-led coalition, and coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki.
- What
- The Houthis claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 and released video of alleged wreckage; the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca.
- When
- The claims were reported on September 16–17, 2026; the Mecca drone interception was reported hours before the F-15 claim.
- Where
- The alleged F-15 shootdown occurred over Marib province in Yemen, while the alleged drone interception occurred south of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The claims emerged amid renewed Houthi attacks, Saudi-led military operations and a broader escalation in regional tensions.
Houthi Account
Saudi Coalition Account
F-15 shootdown
Houthi Account
The Houthis said they used a locally manufactured missile to shoot down a Saudi F-15 conducting what they called hostile operations over Marib, and released video they said showed the event and wreckage.
Saudi Coalition Account
Saudi Arabia had not officially confirmed that an F-15 was lost, and the claim had not been independently verified.
Drone near Mecca
Houthi Account
The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or threatening Islamic holy sites and described Saudi Arabia’s allegation as false and fabricated.
Saudi Coalition Account
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered prohibited airspace, calling the alleged launch a terrorist act.
Saudi air operations
Houthi Account
Yahya Saree claimed Saudi F-15 and Typhoon aircraft carried out more than 450 strikes across several Yemeni provinces and caused civilian casualties.
Saudi Coalition Account
The reports did not provide independent confirmation of the Houthi strike figure or a detailed Saudi response to that accusation.
- Alleged shootdown
- The Houthis said they brought down a Saudi F-15 over Marib province.
- Claimed weapon
- The Houthis said a locally manufactured air-to-air or surface-to-air missile was used.
- Video
- A roughly four-minute video shows an alleged targeting sequence, nighttime fire and smoke, and charred debris in rocky desert terrain.
- Saudi response
- Saudi Arabia had not officially confirmed the loss of an F-15, and the claim was not independently verified.
- Mecca incident
- The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace.
- Houthi denial
- The Houthis denied targeting Mecca or other Islamic holy sites and called the allegation fabrications and lies.
- Reported airstrikes
- Yahya Saree claimed Saudi F-15 and Typhoon jets conducted more than 450 strikes across Yemen during the week.
Sources
Houthis Release Video Of Saudi F-15 Jet Being Shot And Its Wreckage In Flames
Houthis Claim Saudi F-15 Fighter Jet Shot Down Hours After Drone Intercepted Near Mecca
Houthis Release Video Of Saudi F-15 Jet Downed Over Marib, Wreckage Seen In Flames
Houthis Release Video of Saudi F-15 Jet Being Shot and Its Wreckage in Flames Over Marib
