File image.
The leader of the Houthis (Ansar Allah) issued a warning to defense contractors and foreign governments supplying Saudi Arabia with drones, stating that such systems will become “obsolete commodities” of no operational value if deployed in Yemeni airspace.
In a televised address on July 30, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi singled out Turkish military exports to the kingdom, marketed as the “pride of Turkish industry,” asserting that they face predictable failure and downing over Yemen.
The Houthi leader highlighted that Saudi Arabia had previously deployed advanced U.S. drones, as well as Chinese-built ones that were subsequently shot down. He added that “any country that gets involved in selling its air weapons to the kingdom to be used against Yemen will ultimately lose the reputation of its military industries.”
The Houthis possess fairly capable air defenses, ranging from man-portable systems to interceptors and medium-range anti-aircraft missiles.
Saudi Arabia lost four Vestel Karayel combat and reconnaissance drones over Yemen between 2019 and 2022, according to Wikipedia’s list of aviation shootdowns and accidents during the war there.
Following the Houthis’ July 20 declaration of a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, the group reported two additional shootdowns of Turkish-made platforms within a three-day span.
On July 26, Houthi forces published video footage claiming the first battlefield downing of a Saudi-operated Bayraktar Akıncı combat drone over the province of Al-Jawf. Just three days earlier, the group claimed a second intercept targeting a Saudi-operated Karayel reconnaissance drone over the province of Saada.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey have built a significant strategic defense partnership centered on drones. The alliance is anchored by a landmark $3 billion contract signed in July 2023 between the Saudi Ministry of Defense and Turkish defense contractor Baykar—marking the largest single defense export agreement in Turkey’s history.
The recent warning by the Houthis is realistic. The losses of Turkish-made drones over Yemen will affect the reputation of Ankara in the market. Still, taking into account the amount of money the kingdom invested in the latest deal, cooperation will certainly continue.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
turkey should know by now that they are next on the zionist list of wars for greater israel. however it does not look like the zionist’s american puppets will be up to the task. looks like someone may want to destroy turkey’s relations with ansar allah and iran but erdoğan will play all sides.
erdogan is a pawn of usa and israel. if he wasn’t, he would have helped iran to defend itself and retaliate against the zionists. but erdogan is a filthy zionist himself so he stands by and prays for the annihilation of iran.
yemen will be erased…heheheh