Houthis Release Claimed Shootdown Footage
“The Yemeni Armed Forces, with Allah’s aid and grace, succeeded in shooting down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet while it was carrying out hostile operations,” Saree said on social media, according to Euronews.
Operated by Saudi Aramco, the 1,200-km pipeline provides an alternative route for crude exports, helping the kingdom bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi officials said the pipeline was temporarily shut following a drone attack launched from Iraq.
The spokesperson did not specify when the alleged shootdown took place, and the agency said it could not independently verify the claim. Earlier, Saudi authorities said air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. The Houthis have denied targeting Mecca, while Saudi Arabia called holy-site security a “red line”. Saree said, “Our operations target its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites,” while accusing Saudi authorities of spreading “fabrications and lies”. “The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims is a red line, and the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures against the terrorist Houthi militia,” coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement shared on X. Two pumping stations along the country’s vital East-West Pipeline were damaged in last week’s attack, with no clear timeline for repairs, according to three oil and security sources.
Saudi government and Saudi-led coalition did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The alert followed a brief emergency warning issued Tuesday amid escalating Houthi attacks. Saudi Arabia is facing growing pressure to secure both a reliable route for its crude exports and additional military support as attacks in the region intensify.