Yemen's Houthis say shot down Saudi fighter jet

SANAA — Yemen's Houthi forces asserted on Wednesday that they had successfully shot down a Saudi fighter jet, attributing the downing to a locally manufactured air-to-air missile. Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree declared the victory in a social media post, alleging that the Saudi F15 jet was engaged in hostile operations supporting military mobilizations in Marib province.

Saree accused Saudi Arabia of conducting 450 strikes, while denying reports that the Houthis had targeted the holy city of Mecca during the same period. He stated that Houthi operations primarily focus on the country's oil facilities and military bases, which are distant from sacred sites. The Houthi insurgency, which has been clashing with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces since the civil war escalated in July, also declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, targeting its vessels in the Red Sea.

In a recent offensive, the Houthis reportedly gained control of the Marib province, as per Saree's statement.