Houthi Militants Score Apparent Hit Against Saudi Typhoon

Houthi-affiliated media has released infrared footage of a surface to air missile attack on a Royal Saudi Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, showing the missile’s warhead detonating and causing damage to the jet’s wing.

Saudi Arabia has yet to confirm any details relating to the incident, though we now have both the officially-released infrared view as well as a ground-level view of the missile’s launch and detonation taken from nearby. The jet was targeted over the Saada Governorate in northwest Yemen, which is home turf for the Houthi militant group that currently controls around a third of Yemeni territory.

A Houthi spokesperson said the aircraft did not crash, though it should be noted that the Houthis would only be aware if the jet crashed near to their territory and not if it crashed while attempting to return to a Saudi airfield. Depending on the severity of the damage, which is difficult to ascertain from just the infrared footage, the pilot might only later determine whether it is safer to attempt an emergency landing or to eject and abandon the airframe.

Houthis claim to have hit a Saudi Typhoon fighter jet with a missile tonight. https://t.co/UZR6YNaRaw

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) October 14, 2026

The missile, which could be an Iranian-supplied Barq 1 or Barq 2 missile or an older Soviet system, did not appear to directly hit the aircraft but did complete a proximity detonation, likely then damaging the Typhoon with shrapnel. The most significant hits appear to be to the starboard wing, in particular the wingtip which begins to trail a plume visible on the infrared camera.

NEW: Ansar Allah (Houthis) have published video evidence of their claimed strike against a Typhoon fighter jet last night with a Surface-to-Air (SAM) missile.

This marks the SECOND fighter jet Ansar Allah has shot down since the Saudi/Yemen War escalated in this most recent phase. https://t.co/XHjfWnoIEU

— Brett Erickson (@BrettErickson28) October 15, 2026

If confirmed, this would be the first known time where a Eurofighter Typhoon has taken notable hostile fire while in flight. The only other instances of Typhoons being notably damaged by hostile fire both occurred on the ground to Italian examples forward deployed to the Middle East.

Saudi military operations against the Houthis have hit a crescendo in recent days following an increased campaign by the militant group targeting Saudi Arabian infrastructure. King Khalid Airport in Riyadh has been targeted on several occasions, resulting in at least 18 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Large Parts of Saudi Aramco HQ in Dhahran have been destroyed. The Budling’s roof looks heavy damaged from new images today. Houthis likely managed a direct hit without interception . https://t.co/1ShNaPBC2L

— Ali (@MerruX) October 15, 2026

Al Arabiya shows footage of the moment yesterday’s Houthi attack struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, including Umrah pilgrims preparing to board their flights before the strike. https://t.co/Gp2xPdmkuK

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 11, 2026

As well as Saudi Arabia, Houthi missiles have been launched at the internationally recognised government of Yemen, hitting the Al-Maashiq Presidential Palace with ballistic missiles. Early reports indicate at least two fatalities as a result.

MORE: Government-aligned forces are already at Dhubab Airport, which is 54km from Mokha, and some local media have published uncorroborated footage of government-aligned forces entering Mokha after reported Houthi withdrawals.

The retreat of Houthi lines at Mayyun (Perim) Peninsula northwards to at least Dhubab (a distance of approximately 30 km) suggests a major collapse, and there is no evidence currently that the Houthis have halted the collapse of their forces.

This collapse indicates that Yemeni government forces will be able to push the routed Houthis further north rapidly, possibly to and beyond Mokha if conditions hold. Indications that the Houthis have successfully brought the collapse under control south of Mokha would include sustained fighting in the same locations over some period along the coast.

ISW-CTP will continue to watch for indications that the Houthis have reestablished defensive positions. Local Yemeni media posted unverified footage reportedly showing Houthi fighters leaving Houthi-held positions north and east of Mokha city on October 5, suggesting that the collapse is ongoing and that the Houthis have not reestablished defensive positions after the initial collapse

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) October 6, 2026

Saudi-backed forces have launched several ground assaults against Houthi militants in addition to the Royal Saudi Air Force airstrikes.

This article concerns a developing news story and may be updated if and when new information becomes available.