SANAA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said Sunday it had shot down "a Saudi reconnaissance drone" over the northwestern province of Hajjah.
The Houthi-run Saba news agency, citing a military source within the group, identified the drone as a ScanEagle, saying it was brought down while flying over Hajjah, which borders Saudi Arabia.
The source said the Houthi forces shot down the drone using an "appropriate weapon," without giving further details.
Saudi Arabia did not immediately comment on the claim.
The incident comes amid an escalation in Yemen's conflict over the past month, with government forces stepping up drone strikes on Houthi-held positions, while the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at government-held areas in Marib and along the western coast, as well as targets in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government. ■
