Key facts
- Yemen's Houthi rebels claim to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over Al-Bayda Governorate.
- The drone was identified as a Turkish-made 'Wing Loong II' reconnaissance aircraft.
- The incident 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, stating it was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.
- The Houthis also claimed a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, causing fires in Jizan.
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced they shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over Al-Bayda Governorate, identifying it as a Turkish-made 'Wing Loong II' engaged in hostile operations. This claim follows a significant exchange of airstrikes 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 Sanaa airport attack, asserting its aim was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.
In a separate development, the Iran-backed Houthis claimed a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, causing fires in Jizan, after Saudi Arabia launched air strikes on Houthi targets in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida and a nearby island. The US military did not announce fresh strikes on Iran, following a period of consecutive nights of attacks. An Omani delegation arrived in Iran for talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump indicated ongoing negotiations with Iran but maintained a threat of further attacks. The US military reported disabling a tanker ship in the Gulf of Oman that attempted to evade an American blockade. Growing concerns over threats to shipping in the Red Sea had previously pushed crude oil prices above $100 a barrel, though they later dropped. The Houthis condemned the Saudi targeting of civilian facilities as a dangerous escalation. The US and UK are scheduled to hold a conference in London to discuss the Strait of Hormuz.