Houthi forces in Yemen shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province early this morning, the Iranian-backed militia announced. Saudi Arabia has neither confirmed nor denied the incident, but the Houthis have now released extensive video documentation of the strike.
Middle East
Houthis Down Saudi F-15 Over Yemen
Iranian-backed militia publishes footage showing missile lock-on, impact and crash of Saudi warplane, the fourth F-15 lost in the region in six months
According to Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree, the downed aircraft "was conducting hostile operations in the airspace northeast of Sanaa" when it was engaged.
Yemeni sources are claiming that the American-made F-15 fighter has lost its invincibility status in the Middle East within just six months.
Since Operation Lion's Roar began in March, Iranian air defense systems shot down one F-15, and three additional aircraft were lost over Kuwait, with the U.S. military attributing those losses to friendly fire. Now the Houthis have brought down a Saudi F-15 this morning.
The total: four U.S. military aircraft and one Saudi jet.
By contrast, throughout three years of war, not a single Israeli Air Force fighter has been shot down despite thousands of sorties over Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran.
One rescue helicopter crashed during an evacuation operation, apparently due to human error.
Shootdown of the F-15 in Yemen| צילום: N/A
