Yemeni Forces Say They Shot Down Saudi Reconnaissance Drone Over Taiz

Yemen's Houthi-aligned armed forces said on Tuesday that they had shot down a Saudi-operated reconnaissance drone flying over southern Yemen, according to a statement from military spokesperson Yahya Saree reported by Iran's Mehr News Agency.

Saree said the aircraft was a Wing Loong II, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone manufactured in China that is used for both surveillance and armed missions. He said the drone was intercepted over al-Mokha district in Taiz province, an area that has seen repeated air activity during Yemen's prolonged conflict.

The Wing Loong II has been supplied to several countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have led a military coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government against Houthi forces since 2015. The drone is designed for reconnaissance as well as precision strikes, and its loss would represent a setback for coalition surveillance operations in the area.

Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, has remained a frontline in the conflict for years, with government-aligned forces and Houthi fighters contesting territory in and around the province. Al-Mokha, a Red Sea port district within Taiz, has strategic importance for controlling maritime and coastal routes.

Yemen's Houthi movement has periodically announced the downing of coalition aircraft and drones as part of its military messaging throughout the conflict. Independent verification of such claims is often difficult given restricted access to frontline areas.

Saudi Arabia's government did not immediately comment on the claim. The incident comes amid continued instability in the broader Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region, where Houthi forces have also targeted shipping vessels in recent years, drawing international concern over maritime security.