SANAA: Yemen’s Houthis claimed they downed a Saudi F-15 over Marib Governorate and released video showing aircraft wreckage. However, independent sources have not confirmed the claim.
The Houthis said they used a locally produced surface-to-air missile against the U.S.-built fighter on September 16. Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed or denied losing the aircraft.
Footage the group released showed fighters examining wreckage in a desert area. One section appeared to show an aircraft tail carrying a Saudi flag and the number 5539. CNN said it geolocated the crash site to Marib.
CNN military analyst Cedric Leighton said markings visible in the footage were consistent with a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA.
Read: Saudi F-15 Downed Over Yemen, Houthis Claim
Jane’s separately assessed the wreckage as an Advanced Eagle variant, while noting that the Houthis’ targeting footage remained unverified.
The fate of the aircraft’s two crew members remains unknown. The Houthis did not provide information about them, and no Saudi statement had clarified their status.
The claim comes amid renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Riyadh has accused the group of launching drones toward Saudi territory, while the Houthis have accused Saudi forces of carrying out airstrikes inside Yemen.
Read: Saudi Houthi Strategy Faces Pressure As Yemen Fighting Grows
Separately, Saudi Civil Defence said debris from an intercepted drone fell in Taif Governorate on September 17. One person was killed and two others, including a Pakistani national, were injured.
Until Saudi Arabia issues an official account, the circumstances of the Saudi F-15 downing remain disputed.
