Key facts
- Yemen's Houthi rebels announced they shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone.
- The drone was identified as a Turkish-made 'Wing Loong II' reconnaissance aircraft.
- The incident occurred over Al-Bayda Governorate in central Yemen.
- This follows an exchange of airstrikes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, the largest since a 2022 truce.
- The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa airport, prompting retaliation.
- The Saudi-backed Yemeni government claimed responsibility for the Sanaa airport attack, citing the prevention of an Iranian plane's landing.
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced on Sunday that they had successfully shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over Al-Bayda Governorate in the center of the country. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated the drone was a Turkish-made, armed reconnaissance aircraft engaged in hostile operations.
This claim follows a significant exchange of hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, described as the largest since a 2022 truce. The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of attacking the rebel-held Sanaa airport, and in retaliation, the group targeted an airport within the kingdom. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government later claimed responsibility for the attack on Sanaa airport, asserting its aim was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.