Yemen’s Houthis Claim They Shot Down Saudi F-15 Fighter Jet Over Marib
SANAA — September 16, 2026 — Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed on Wednesday, September 16, that its forces had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over the northeastern province of Marib, marking a significant escalation in hostilities between the Iran-aligned group and the Saudi-led coalition.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement carried by the group’s al-Masirah TV that the aircraft was struck by a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile while conducting “hostile operations” in support of Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in Marib . The reported downing could not be independently verified, and Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the Houthi claim .
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Houthis Say Additional Jets Forced to Retreat
According to Saree, Houthi forces subsequently fired locally made air-defense missiles at two formations of Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets that entered Marib’s airspace to search for the wreckage of the downed aircraft, forcing them to retreat .
The spokesperson stated that Saudi warplanes had carried out more than 450 airstrikes across seven Yemeni provinces over the past week, including Taiz, Lahj, al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and al-Bayda. He said civilian casualties were reported but did not provide an overall casualty figure .
Saudi Arabia Warns Mecca Is a ‘Red Line’
The Houthi announcement came as Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace over Islam’s holiest city . Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki described the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims as a “red line,” warning that Riyadh would take deterrent countermeasures .
The Houthis rejected the Saudi allegations, with spokesperson Hazem al-Assad calling the claim of targeting Mecca “an old and baseless lie” . Saree said the group’s operations targeted Saudi oil facilities and military bases rather than religious sites, adding that Yemen posed “no danger” to Islamic holy sites .
Regional Diplomacy and Maritime Security
The escalation coincided with a meeting in Cairo between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, where the two leaders stressed the importance of ensuring freedom and security of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz . Sisi expressed support for Saudi measures to protect its security and stability.
The Houthis have said their response will continue as long as Saudi military operations against them persist, while Riyadh has pledged to take measures to protect its territory and national security
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