Houthi rebels release video showing 'shooting down' of Saudi jet

Houthi rebels in Yemen have released a video reportedly showing the shooting down of a Saudi fighter jet.

Using a repurposed American-made sensor turret, which features an infrared camera, the Houthis claim to have captured the moment rebels shot down Royal Saudi Air Force F-15S over Yemen.

The footage was aired on Monday on Houthis' Al Masirah television network. A separate statement from the group's Saba News Agency said their forces shot down the aircraft with a surface-to-air missile.

According to The Drive, the video shows the sensor turret on an improvised ground mount. Above, the F-15S fighter "appears to increase speed and releases decoy flares before a projectile hits it, appearing to cause significant damage," it reported.

The fate of the pilots is unknown, it added.

The Drive reported there was a "distinct possibility" the US supplied the sensor to the Yemeni government, which then fell into the hands of the Houthis.

However, there was little information on what weapon was used. Houthis could have launched an infrared homing air-to-air missile or MANPADS - shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, which could have been acquired from Yemeni government stockpiles.

The Saudis have not commented on whether the incident had occurred.

The incident was separate to one on Sunday in which Houthis claimed to have shot down a UK-made Tornado jet, used by Saudi's air force, killing two crew members.

Saudi military dismissed the alleged attack as a "technical failure", adding the crew were rescued.

The Saudi-led coalition joined the Yemeni government in its fight against the Houthis in March 2015, after the rebels seized control of the capital Sanaa.

Despite the coalition's superior firepower, the rebels still control the capital and much of north Yemen.