Yemen’s Houthi movement says it has shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over Hajjah province and released footage it says shows the wreckage of the aircraft. The group claims the drone was intercepted during growing military tensions in northern Yemen.
The claim comes as fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces intensifies. The Houthis have also been expanding their operations along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.
The latest escalation is raising concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. The strategic waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is vital for international shipping.
Any wider disruption in the area could create additional risks for commercial vessels and global energy supplies. Regional tensions have already increased pressure on shipping routes across the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have not confirmed the Houthi claim about the drone. The situation remains closely watched as military activity increases along Yemen’s coast.
The latest development adds to fears that renewed fighting could threaten regional stability and create further challenges for international shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb.
