Houthis release video claiming to show downed Saudi F-15 fighter as Iran-backed rebels press their lightning advance

Houthi Footage Claims Saudi F-15 Was Brought Down Over Yemen

Earthguardiansonline.com – Houthi rebels have released footage they say shows the wreckage of a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet destroyed during operations over Yemen, an allegation that comes as the group expands its military campaign and regional concerns over energy transport intensify.

The Iran-backed movement said Wednesday that the aircraft was hit over Marib Governorate in west-central Yemen. In its statement, the group said the US-made jet had been taking part in hostile activity when it was targeted by a missile produced locally.

“was downed using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile”

The video includes what appears to be a digital display depicting a missile strike on a fighter aircraft. Later scenes show armed Houthi personnel examining debris spread across an arid landscape. In one sequence, fighters hold up what appears to be an aircraft tail section marked with a Saudi flag emblem and the number 5539.

The imagery has not been independently verified or geolocated, and Saudi Arabia had not issued an official public response to the claim. Saudi and US authorities have been asked for comment.

Aircraft markings appear consistent with Saudi fleet

Military analyst Cedric Leighton, a retired US Air Force colonel, said the markings visible on the tail section appeared consistent with Saudi Arabian F-15 aircraft. If the claim is confirmed, the event would represent a significant loss for Riyadh and underline the expanding risks facing air operations over Yemen.

The aircraft identified in the footage appears to be an F-15SA, one of the most modern Saudi versions of the twin-engine fighter. Saudi Arabia’s model is derived from the F-15E Strike Eagle, a major component of US air power since its combat introduction during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The broader F-15 family has served with the US Air Force since 1976. Boeing completed Saudi Arabia’s last order of the aircraft in December 2020, a delivery noted at the time in a US Air Force release.

Rising pressure on Yemen’s government and Saudi Arabia

The claimed shootdown coincides with a sharper phase in Yemen’s long-running conflict. The Houthis have increased their fighting against Yemen’s Saudi-backed government while extending the territory under their control. Their recent advances have added a new layer of uncertainty to a war that has already fractured the country for years.

Last week, Houthi forces captured a port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast and also took control of an island near a strategically important waterway. The route has taken on greater importance during months of disruption affecting the Strait of Hormuz, as it can help move Saudi oil and refined products to export markets.

Control of coastal territory and nearby islands can have consequences beyond Yemen’s borders. Shipping lanes in the Red Sea and surrounding waters connect producers in the Gulf with international markets, making security developments in the area closely watched by governments, energy traders and commercial shipping operators.

The Houthis have also increased attacks directed at Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. Riyadh has responded with retaliatory strikes, raising concern that the kingdom could become more deeply involved as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues.

A potentially rare combat loss for the F-15

If independently confirmed, the Saudi aircraft’s destruction would be only the second known case in the current conflict of a US-built F-15 being brought down by hostile fire. An American F-15 Strike Eagle was previously shot down by Iranian forces earlier in the war.

That earlier incident triggered a US operation to recover the crew. The rescue was ultimately successful, though several US aircraft had to be destroyed after becoming stuck at a desert landing site.

Three additional US F-15s were lost to friendly fire from Kuwaiti forces during the opening stages of the Iran war. Those cases highlight the dangers facing combat aircraft in a fast-moving regional conflict, where hostile fire, air-defense systems and mistaken identification can all pose serious threats.

For Saudi Arabia, confirmation of the latest claim would carry military and political weight. The country relies on advanced air power as part of its regional defense posture, and the apparent use of a surface-to-air missile against a modern fighter would draw further attention to Houthi air-defense capabilities.

For now, key details remain unresolved: whether the wreckage is from a Saudi F-15SA, where the aircraft came down, and the circumstances of the alleged engagement. Those questions will be central to assessing whether the footage reflects a confirmed battlefield loss or an unverified claim made during an increasingly volatile period in Yemen and the wider Middle East.