1 week ago
Houthis Claim Saudi Reconnaissance Drone Shot Down Over Yemen
The Houthis said they shot down a Saudi drone in northern Yemen.
They said the drone was flying over Hajjah, a province near Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis identified it as a ScanEagle reconnaissance drone.
They did not explain exactly what weapon they used.
Saudi Arabia had not publicly responded to the claim when the report was published.
The Houthis also said they recently attacked an airport and an oil facility in southern Saudi Arabia.
Yemeni government forces said they carried out dozens of attacks against Houthi positions.
The reports show that fighting and drone strikes are continuing in Yemen and across its border with Saudi Arabia.
The Houthi movement said it shot down a Saudi ScanEagle reconnaissance drone over Yemen’s Hajjah province.
The group said the drone was downed with an “appropriate weapon,” but gave no further details.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the reported drone shootdown.
The Houthis recently claimed drone attacks on Najran airport and a Saudi Aramco facility.
Yemeni government forces said they conducted 81 operations against Houthi positions amid intensifying fighting.
- Who
- The Houthi movement, Saudi Arabia, and Yemeni government forces.
- What
- The Houthis claimed they shot down a Saudi ScanEagle reconnaissance drone and reported other drone attacks, while Yemeni government forces reported 81 operations against Houthi positions.
- Where
- The reported shootdown occurred over Hajjah province in northwestern Yemen, near Saudi Arabia; other incidents involved Najran in southern Saudi Arabia and multiple Yemeni frontlines.
- When
- The drone shootdown was announced on Sunday; the other reported attacks and military operations occurred in the preceding days.
- Why
- The Houthis said their actions responded to Saudi drone incursions and an alleged Saudi blockade, while Yemeni government forces said their operations responded to Houthi attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure.
Houthi Claims
Saudi and Yemeni Government Positions
Drone shootdown
Houthi Claims
The Houthis said they shot down a Saudi ScanEagle reconnaissance drone over Hajjah with an appropriate weapon.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Positions
Saudi Arabia had not immediately commented on the claim, so the report did not independently confirm the shootdown.
Reason for military actions
Houthi Claims
The Houthis described their attacks as responses to Saudi drone incursions over Saada and an alleged Saudi blockade of Houthi-held areas.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Positions
Yemeni government forces said their operations targeted Houthi fighters and positions in response to repeated Houthi attacks on government forces and civilian infrastructure.
Recent attacks and results
Houthi Claims
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said attacks on Najran airport and an Aramco facility achieved their objectives.
Saudi and Yemeni Government Positions
The report provided no independent confirmation of damage or casualties from those attacks.
Key facts
- Reported aircraft
- Saudi ScanEagle reconnaissance drone
- Reported location
- Hajjah province, northwestern Yemen
- Houthi claim
- The drone was shot down using an “appropriate weapon”
- Saudi response
- Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment
- Recent Houthi targets
- Najran airport and a facility belonging to Saudi state oil company Aramco
- Government operations
- Yemeni government forces reported 81 operations against Houthi positions in 24 hours
- Conflict background
- The conflict has continued since the Houthis seized much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, in late 2014
Sources
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