The Houthis have claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemeni skies as attacks on Saudi Arabia continue to intensify. The claim comes at a sensitive time for Pakistan, which has repeatedly condemned Houthi attacks and signed a new mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

On September 16, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that Houthi forces had brought down a Saudi F-15 over Marib Governorate using a locally produced surface to air missile. The Houthis also released footage that they said showed the aircraft being tracked, hit and later found in wreckage. Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed the loss.

The Houthis described the weapon used to shoot down the F-15 as a locally manufactured surface-to-air missile. Analysis of the released footage suggests that the weapon could be a Barq-1 or Barq-2 medium-range system derived from Iranian technology. Another possibility is the Thaqib-2. These identifications remain assessments and have not been officially confirmed.

The aircraft appears to be a Saudi F-15, with specialist analysis linking the visible serial number to an aircraft believed to be an F-15SR. The F-15SR refers to Saudi F-15S aircraft upgraded towards the F-15SA standard. Saudi Arabia also operates 84 newly built F-15SA fighters. The F-15SA standard includes an AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, missile warning systems, infrared search and track capability and digital fly by wire controls.

If confirmed, the loss would be significant because Saudi F-15s are among the main combat aircraft used by the Royal Saudi Air Force. It would also raise questions about the ability of Houthi air defences to detect and engage advanced Saudi aircraft. The Houthis have developed a mixed air defence inventory using locally produced weapons, modified legacy missiles and systems derived from Iranian technology.

The F-15 claim comes amid a wider escalation. Saudi Arabia has reported repeated Houthi attacks on its territory and infrastructure. On September 15, Saudi air defences also intercepted what Saudi authorities described as a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the city's restricted airspace. The Houthis have although denied targeting Mecca.

On September 8, Islamabad condemned Houthi attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Pakistan said the attacks violated Saudi sovereignty and territorial integrity and supported Riyadh's right under international law to defend its territory, citizens and national assets. On September 13, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and reiterated Pakistan's condemnation of Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure. He said the attacks threatened regional peace and could disrupt global energy supplies.

A day later, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the reported Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca. He said Pakistan stood firmly with Saudi Arabia in protecting the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of pilgrims, citizens and residents.

The statements have acquired greater significance since Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The agreement states that an armed attack against one of the three countries shall be regarded as an attack against all. Pakistan has repeatedly described the agreement as defensive and focused on collective deterrence.

The latest Houthi F-15 claim comes at a crucial point. Saudi Arabia is facing attacks on military, civilian and economic targets while Pakistan's new defence arrangement with Riyadh is being tested by the conflict. On September 16, Pakistan's military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary said that the Mecca defence pact “has no regional ambitions”. Both Pakistan & Turkiye did not immediately intervene militarily creating the first real-world security test of the pact. It indicates that the pact lacks teeth amid Pakistan’s mounting rhetoric over its commitment to Saudi Arabia.

For now, the F-15 loss remains unconfirmed by Saudi Arabia and the missile used remains unidentified. But the incident adds a new military dimension to a crisis in which Pakistan has already publicly committed itself to Saudi security while continuing to describe the Mecca agreement as defensive and successive attempts of diverting the sentiment towards other staged conflicts.  

Savio Rodrigues

Savio Rodrigues is a Research Analyst at Escape Velocity MediaWorks Pvt Ltd and writes for Chakra News on Defence, Geopolitics, National Security. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Mumbai.