Houthis claim downing of Saudi-led coalition F-15 over Marib

Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Wednesday that their forces had brought down an F-15 fighter jet belonging to the Saudi-led coalition, a claim they did not back with evidence.

The assertion was made by Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesman, in remarks carried by the Houthi media office.

Saree said the aircraft was hit while carrying out what he described as hostile operations in support of coalition troops in the skies over Marib Governorate, and that it was struck with a surface-to-air missile produced locally.

He framed the reported downing as a response to what he called aggression against Yemen and its people.

In the same statement, Saree rejected allegations that the rebels had targeted Mecca, one of Islam's holiest cities. He said such claims were fabrications spread by the Saudi royal family and accused Riyadh of defiling the site.

He further maintained that Yemen poses no danger to the holy places, saying the group's operations are directed at oil facilities and military bases and are located far from them.

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been fighting the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. No independent confirmation of the downing was immediately available.