Houthis release video claiming to show downed Saudi F-15 fighter as Iran-backed rebels press their lightning advance, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/houthis-release-video-claiming-to-show-downed-saudi-f-15-fighter-as-iran-backed-rebels-press-their-lightning-advance/ar-AA2couoi?ocid=BingNewsVerp)

This news report covers claims made by Yemen’s Houthi rebels (Ansar Allah) regarding the downing of a Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jet amid renewed fighting in Yemen.

Key Points of the Report

• The Video and Imagery: The Houthis released infrared (FLIR) targeting video that allegedly documents a missile tracking and intercepting a fighter aircraft in flight. Supplementary footage and photos show armed Houthi fighters inspecting charred aircraft wreckage in a desert/rocky area, including a tail section displaying a Saudi flag.

• Houthi Claims: Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed their forces used a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile to shoot down the Saudi F-15 over the northeastern Marib Governorate. He stated the jet was carrying out operations in support of Saudi-backed forces. Saree also claimed that subsequent Saudi fighter formations attempting to locate the crash site were forced to retreat.

• The “Lightning Advance” & Escalation Context: The incident comes alongside a major flare-up in the conflict. Houthi forces recently launched rapid offensive operations, advancing near contested zones in Marib and securing key coastal stretches along Yemen’s Red Sea perimeter and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

• Broader Tensions: The claim surfaced shortly after Saudi authorities reported intercepting a Houthi drone southwest of Mecca, prompting security alerts. The Houthis denied targeting holy sites, insisting their strikes only target military infrastructure and energy facilities.

• Verification and Official Response: The footage and claims have not been independently verified, and neither the Saudi government nor the Saudi-led coalition had officially confirmed the loss of an aircraft or commented on the status of the crew.