Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed on the 16th local time that they shot down a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet over the airspace of Marib Governorate in northeastern Yemen.

Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, stated in a broadcasted statement through the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV that the Saudi fighter jet was shot down by an indigenous surface-to-air missile while carrying out hostile operations to assist Yemeni government forces.

He added that the Houthis also fired air defense missiles to force two squadrons of Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets to retreat after they entered Marib's airspace to search for the wreckage of the crashed jet.

Saudi authorities did not immediately release a statement regarding the Houthi claim, and the downing of the fighter jet has not yet been verified by foreign media.

Furthermore, Spokesperson Saree claimed that Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter jets carried out more than 450 airstrikes across seven provinces in Yemen over the past week, resulting in civilian casualties.

However, he did not disclose the specific number of casualties.

He emphasized, "We will continue to mobilize all available means to counter violations of Yemen's airspace and sovereignty."

The Houthi rebels subsequently released a video and photos showing the moment the fighter jet was shot down and the wreckage through their official Telegram channel.

The released video captures an air defense missile launched toward the night sky colliding with an airborne object in mid-air.

Photos released alongside show men holding up rifles and posing for commemorative photos in front of the wreckage of the crashed fighter jet.

Saudi insignia is visible on the wreckage of the jet's tail section.

Spokesperson Saree dismissed Saudi claims that the Houthi rebels targeted Mecca, asserting that no danger is posed to Islamic holy sites and that their cross-border operations target Saudi oil facilities and military bases.

Previously, the Saudi Civil Defense issued an attack threat alert for Mecca, Islam's holiest site, before lifting it a few minutes later.

In connection with this, the Saudi-led coalition stated that it intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca.

(Photo: Capture from Houthi Telegram channel, Yonhap News)