SANAA, Yemen — Yemen's Houthi movement claimed on Sunday that its air defense forces shot down a Saudi-operated Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) over Al Jawf Governorate in northern Yemen.
Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the drone was brought down while carrying out what he described as "hostile operations" in Yemeni airspace. According to Saree, the aircraft was hit using an "appropriate weapon."
Media affiliated with the Houthis released footage that they said showed the drone, bearing tail number 20703, spinning out of control after being struck before crashing. Images released by the group also showed wreckage displaying the same tail number, which they associated with the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Saudi Arabia has not issued an official statement on the claim, and the reported incident has not been independently verified.
If confirmed, this would be the first reported loss of a Bayraktar Akıncı drone inside Yemen.
The claimed shootdown is the second Saudi-operated drone that the Houthis have reported downing in July 2026. Earlier this month, on July 14, the group said it had shot down a Chinese-made Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicle over Al-Bayda Governorate.
The reported incident took place over Al Jawf Governorate, a northern region bordering Saudi Arabia that has remained one of the key front lines in Yemen's conflict. The governorate has long served as a Houthi stronghold and is strategically important because it connects northern Yemen with the country's eastern governorates while sharing a border with Saudi Arabia.
The claim comes amid renewed tensions between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. A day before the reported drone incident, the Houthis announced missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan. Saudi authorities issued air raid alerts in those areas but did not confirm any damage.
Those Houthi attacks followed Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen's Hodeidah Governorate, marking another round of military exchanges after the breakdown of a prolonged truce.
The Bayraktar Akıncı is a Turkish-developed high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle produced by Baykar. It entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces in 2021 and is designed to conduct reconnaissance and precision strike missions.
The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of about 6 tons and can carry more than 1,500 kilograms of payload. It is equipped with radar, satellite communications, electronic warfare systems, and advanced sensor suites for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike operations.
Saudi Arabia signed a major defense agreement with Baykar in July 2023 to acquire the Bayraktar Akıncı. The agreement, described by the company as its largest defense and aviation export contract, also included technology transfer and cooperation on local production. Industry estimates have valued the deal at around $3 billion, with the drones intended to enter service with both the Royal Saudi Air Force and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
Saudi authorities have not commented on the reported loss of the aircraft, and no independent confirmation of the incident has been released.
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