Houthis Claim to Have Shot Down Saudi F-15, Target Aramco Facilities and Air Base

SANAA (Terror Monitor) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group has claimed that it shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province and carried out separate missile and drone attacks against Saudi oil and military facilities.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a statement posted on X that Yemeni forces brought down a Saudi F-15 in the airspace over Marib. He said the aircraft was hit by a locally manufactured air-to-air missile.

Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported loss of an F-15, and no official statement has been issued regarding the incident.

Saree also rejected Saudi Arabia’s accusation that the Houthis had attempted to target Makkah, saying the group’s operations are directed at oil facilities and military bases.

The Houthi statement came hours after the Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone before it entered restricted airspace around Makkah.

Attacks on Aramco and Khamis Mushait

The Houthis also announced two separate military operations against targets inside Saudi Arabia.

According to the Houthi statement, the first operation targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu with ballistic missiles and drones. A second operation targeted Khamis Mushait Air Base with ballistic missiles.

The group said the attacks were carried out in response to Saudi-led military operations and what it described as a continuing siege against Yemen.

The Houthis said their operations against targets inside Saudi Arabia would continue until the military campaign and siege against Yemen end.

Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported strikes on the Yanbu Aramco facilities or Khamis Mushait Air Base.

Saudi F-15 Fighter Aircraft

The F-15 is a twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

In the air-to-ground role, the aircraft can carry a range of weapons, including precision-guided munitions using laser and GPS guidance, as well as conventional bombs and other air-to-ground weapons.

Two-seat versions of the F-15 are operated by a pilot and a weapons systems officer. The pilot is responsible for flying the aircraft, while the weapons systems officer manages targeting and weapons-related systems.

The division of responsibilities allows the crew to manage complex combat operations, particularly in heavily defended or otherwise dangerous airspace.

The reported incident comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The Houthis have also announced maritime restrictions against Saudi Arabia and claimed attacks on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea.