Yemen's Houthi rebels say they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province

On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the jet was hit by a locally made surface-to-air missile. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the loss. The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of hundreds of airstrikes on Yemen. In a related development, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of a drone attack on Mecca, which the Houthis denied, saying their operations target only oil facilities and military bases, not sacred sites.