Houthi Spokesperson Says Fighter Jet Intercepted After Drone Loss

In a follow‑up broadcast, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sari claimed that after the reported downing of a Saudi armed drone, the rebels also intercepted two Saudi F‑15 fighter jets that entered Yemeni airspace over Marib. According to Sari, the jets originated from the Khamis Mushait air base in southwestern Saudi Arabia and attempted to fly over the Mocha area before being forced to retreat.

The Houthi statement said the aircraft were engaged using locally built surface‑to‑air missiles, which temporarily disrupted the pilots' flight path. Both jets reportedly returned to their base after the encounter.

Earlier on Wednesday, the group had announced that a Saudi F‑15 had been shot down, but later clarified that the aircraft were intercepted rather than destroyed. The claim aligns with the rebels' broader narrative of increased defensive capability against the coalition's air operations.

The ongoing war, which began in 2014 and intensified after the Saudi‑led coalition's intervention in March 2015, has seen numerous allegations from both sides regarding aircraft losses, many of which remain unverified by independent observers.