The Houthis of Yemen claimed this Wednesday to have shot down a Saudi Arabian combat aircraft and accused Riyadh of carrying out hundreds of airstrikes on Yemeni territory.
The conflict between this pro-Iranian group and the internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia intensified in July, expanding the war in the Middle East.
The Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and, in a lightning offensive last week, took control of the Yemeni Red Sea coast and the strategic Bab el Mandeb strait.
The anti-government fighters managed to “shoot down a Saudi F-15 combat aircraft conducting hostile operations (…) in the airspace of Marib province, with a locally made surface-to-air missile,” said their military spokesman, Yahya Saree, this Wednesday.
The spokesman also rejected Saudi claims that the Houthis had attacked the holy city of Mecca this week.
“Our operations target their oil facilities and military bases, which are far from the holy sites,” he said.
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