Agencies | Sanna:
Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday claimed they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet, as military tensions between the Iran-aligned group and Saudi Arabia continued to escalate.
The claim was made in a statement issued by the Houthis but has not been independently verified. There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities regarding the alleged loss of the aircraft.
The Houthi claim came only hours after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed Houthi drones near Mecca, highlighting the intensifying confrontation between the two sides.
The developments add to a rapidly escalating air campaign in and around Yemen, with the Houthis accusing the Saudi-led coalition of conducting extensive strikes against areas under their control.
According to the Houthi statement, the Saudi-led coalition carried out more than 450 air strikes over the past week. The figure could not be independently verified.
The latest claims come amid renewed fighting in Yemen, where the Houthis and forces aligned with the internationally recognised Yemeni government remain locked in a prolonged conflict.
The escalation has also raised concerns over the potential spillover of the conflict into neighbouring Saudi territory and the wider security situation across the Red Sea and Gulf region.
