Verified video shows wreck of Saudi warplane shot down over Yemen
BBC Verify has confirmed footage showing the wreckage of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet in Yemen, which Houthi rebels claim to have shot down. Analysts suggest this indicates an escalation in Houthi military capabilities supported by Iran.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing regional conflict and the increasing sophistication of non-state actors in the Middle East, posing risks to regional security.
Figure caption, BBC Verify has confirmed the footage was filmed in western Yemen.
Footage verified by the BBC shows the wreckage of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet which the Iran-backed Houthi group says it shot down over Yemen.
The US-made aircraft was "downed using a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile" as it "conducted hostile operations" over the Marib region, according to a Houthi statement on Wednesday.
Experts have told BBC Verify the incident is a "propaganda coup" that shows the Houthis' military capability has advanced and they are prepared to further escalate its conflict with Saudi Arabia.
Using satellite imagery to match features in the landscape seen in the footage, BBC Verify was able to pinpoint the crash site to an isolated location in the hills west of the Yemeni city of Marib.
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