The Yemeni Armed Forces have released video footage and images they say show the moment a Saudi F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Yemen’s Marib province, as well as the wreckage of the aircraft after it crashed.

Yemeni military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said the fighter was brought down on Wednesday by a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile while conducting hostile operations over Marib.

Footage released by the Yemeni military media showed what appeared to be a fighter aircraft being struck in the air, followed by images of debris scattered across the ground. Other footage showed parts of the aircraft, including sections bearing markings associated with the Saudi aircraft. The imagery has been released by the Sanaa-based authorities and has not been independently verified.

Saree said the aircraft had been operating in support of Saudi-backed forces in Marib when it was targeted. He also claimed that Yemeni air-defense units subsequently confronted additional Saudi aircraft, including F-15 and Typhoon fighters, that entered the area while searching for the downed jet.

According to the Yemeni military, the additional aircraft were forced to withdraw from the area following the confrontation.

The reported shootdown comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting between the Sanaa-based forces and Saudi Arabia. Yemeni officials said Saudi warplanes had carried out more than 450 airstrikes in Yemen during the week, targeting areas including Taiz, Lahij, Al Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Saada and Al Bayda.

The F-15 is one of the principal fighter aircraft operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force. The reported loss of an F-15 would therefore represent a significant development if independently confirmed. Saudi Arabia has not immediately confirmed the loss of the aircraft, and details about the fate of its crew have not been publicly established.

The incident comes as fighting has intensified after a period of relative calm following the informal ceasefire that took effect in 2022.

The renewed confrontation is taking place against a wider regional backdrop of escalating hostilities. The Sanaa-based forces have expanded military operations against Saudi-linked targets while Saudi Arabia has intensified air operations in Yemen. The fighting has also raised concerns over maritime security around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world's most important shipping routes.

The Yemeni forces have also claimed attacks against Saudi military and energy-related targets. Saudi authorities, meanwhile, have reported intercepting drones and missiles launched from Yemen and have warned of further military responses.

The latest escalation has also had a growing humanitarian impact. The United Nations has reported that tens of thousands of Yemenis have been displaced since the renewed fighting began, adding to a humanitarian crisis that has already affected millions of people after more than a decade of conflict.

The reported F-15 shootdown could further raise tensions between the two sides, particularly if the aircraft loss is subsequently confirmed by Saudi authorities or independently verified. (ILKHA)