Yemeni forces say they downed Saudi reconnaissance drone over Hajjah

The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced that Yemeni air defences shot down an armed Karayel reconnaissance drone belonging to the Saudi military over the Al-Tinah area of Hajjah province, according to the local Al-Masirah TV website.

In a statement carried by Al-Masirah, Saree said the drone was brought down using what he described as an appropriate weapon. "With the help of God Almighty, the Yemeni Armed Forces succeeded in shooting down an armed 'Karayel' spy drone belonging to the Saudi enemy over the Al-Tinah area in Hajjah province using an appropriate weapon," the spokesman was quoted as saying.

The report said the rate at which Saudi drones are being shot down in Yemeni airspace has accelerated. It did not provide further details on the type of weapon used, the exact time of the incident, or any casualties or damage on the ground.

Hajjah province, in northwestern Yemen near the border with Saudi Arabia, has been the site of repeated military activity during the conflict. The Karayel is a Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicle that has been used by Saudi forces, according to the account.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have periodically announced the downing of reconnaissance and combat drones over various provinces. Such statements are typically issued through the group's military media and are not independently verifiable from the areas concerned.

According to Mehr News, citing Al-Masirah TV, the announcement is the latest in a series of similar claims by the Yemeni military regarding Saudi drone activity in Yemeni airspace.