The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that they had shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet and confronted two Saudi combat formations involving F-15 and Typhoon aircraft over Marib Province.

ocally manufactured missiles to intercept two Saudi combat formations of F-15 and Typhoon aircraft over Marib. The aircraft, it said, had been searching for the wreckage of the downed jet but were forced to withdraw.

The Yemeni Armed Forces reaffirmed that they would continue protecting Yemen’s airspace and sovereignty against aggression and violations, stressing that the country’s skies would not be left open to hostile aircraft.

The statement said the operation came amid continued Saudi airstrikes on Yemen. It stressed that Saudi warplanes had carried out more than 450 raids this week using F-15 and Typhoon aircraft launched from the Khamis Mushait and Taif air bases, targeting Taiz, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Marib, Sa'adah and Al-Baidha provinces and causing civilian casualties.

The Yemeni Armed Forces also rejected Saudi allegations that Yemen was targeting Mecca, saying their operations target oil facilities and military bases located far from Islamic holy sites.

The operation comes amid an escalation in Saudi airstrikes on several Yemeni provinces and continued military activity around Marib. Sana'a has repeatedly said its military operations are aimed at countering Saudi attacks and protecting Yemen’s airspace and sovereignty.