Yemen's Houthi rebels shoot down Saudi F-15 fighter jet

Yemen's Houthi rebels have shot down a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet over the northeastern province of Marib, marking a major escalation in the conflict and a significant propaganda victory for the insurgent group.

The rebels released video footage of the crash site on Wednesday, showing fighters standing beside the burning remains of the US-built warplane. BBC Verify analysed the footage and confirmed its authenticity, identifying the jet's virtually intact tail fin, which clearly displayed the Saudi flag and a four-digit serial number. The fate of the crew remains unknown, and the Saudi Ministry of Defence has not yet commented on the loss.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the aircraft was targeted using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile while it was conducting operations over Marib. The rebels also released thermal footage showing a missile striking a plane in mid-flight, though analysts could not independently verify that specific clip due to its low visual detail.

If confirmed by Riyadh, this would be only the second time a US-built F-15 has been shot down in combat, following the loss of a US Air Force F-15 Strike Eagle to Iranian forces earlier this year.

Why this matters

"It is a major propaganda coup," Adam Baron, a Yemen expert at the New America think tank, told the BBC. He noted that Saudi air superiority has long been the primary defence against Houthi advances. "An eye-for-an-eye has been a huge element of the group's public messaging. This is partially to show that air support will come at a price."

The downing comes during a week of intense military activity. Saree claimed that Saudi aircraft had conducted more than 450 airstrikes across Yemen this week, launched from bases in Khamis Mushait and Taif. He added that Houthi air defences later chased away other Saudi jets searching for the downed F-15's wreckage.

A broader regional escalation

The clash is part of a broader, rapidly intensifying regional conflict. Just hours before the jet was downed, Saudi forces claimed to have intercepted a Houthi drone near the holy city of Mecca. While Saudi officials called the incident a "red line" and threatened severe retaliation, the Houthis denied targeting any religious sites, stating that their operations only target oil facilities and military installations.

However, the fallout from the drone war is turning deadly. In Taif province, falling debris from another intercepted Houthi drone killed a Yemeni national and injured two others, including a Saudi citizen and a Pakistani worker.

These strikes have also begun to choke Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure. State-run oil giant Aramco was forced to temporarily shut down its major cross-country pipeline after it was targeted by rebel drones. While Aramco is currently working to restore half of the pipeline's capacity, the threat to Saudi oil exports is compounding.

The Houthis recently seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, including the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. With the Strait of Hormuz already partially blocked due to regional tensions, the loss of these shipping lanes leaves Saudi Arabia facing a severe export bottleneck.

Baraa Shiban, a Yemen analyst at the Royal United Services Institute, said the downing of the F-15 shows the Houthis are making effective use of foreign help. "It is very clear the Houthis have been taking advantage of advice and technological support from Iran," Shiban said. "They continue to develop their military arsenal."