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Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed Sunday they shot down a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci armed reconnaissance drone operated by Saudi forces over Yemen's Al Jawf province, a day after the group announced attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed Houthi forces "successfully shot down a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci armed reconnaissance drone belonging to the Saudi enemy while it was conducting hostile operations," adding that it was brought down "using an appropriate weapon."
"We affirm that the armed forces will confront any attempt to violate the country's sovereignty and possess the capabilities and means to do so," Saree said.
Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the claim, which could not be independently verified.
Saudi Arabia became the first Gulf country to acquire the Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci under a landmark July 2023 agreement with Baykar. The agreement included plans for technology transfer and cooperation on local production.
The company described the deal as the largest defense and aerospace export contract in Türkiye's history, with industry estimates putting its value at around $3 billion, though the financial terms were never officially disclosed.
Under the deal, the Akinci entered the inventories of both the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, expanding Riyadh's fleet of armed unmanned aircraft beyond its existing Chinese-made CH-4 and Wing Loong II drones.
Defense intelligence firm Shephard estimates the kingdom ordered 96 aircraft, though neither the figure nor delivery numbers have been officially confirmed.
The reported drone shootdown comes a day after fighting flared between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in one of the sharpest escalations since their 2022 truce unraveled.
On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen's Red Sea governorate of Hodeidah, saying the sites were being used to threaten commercial shipping.
Houthi-run media reported strikes on telecommunications facilities in Hodeidah and on Kamaran Island, while the coalition said commercial ports remained open and denied targeting port infrastructure.
Hours later, the Houthis announced missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan, describing them as retaliation for the Saudi strikes. Saudi authorities acknowledged air raid alerts in both cities but did not confirm any damage.
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