Moroccan F-16 Fighter Jet Involved In Saudi-Led Airstrikes In Yemen Goes Missing, Investigation Underway

Update as of 7:30 a.m. EDT: Yemen’s Houthi TV network al-Masira on Monday showed wreckage of a Moroccan F-16 fighter jet, which authorities said went missing on Sunday, according to Reuters.

The network also reportedly said that the plane, which was involved in the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes against the Iran-allied Houthi rebels, was shot down by tribesmen loyal to the group in Yemen’s Saada province.

Original story:

A Moroccan F-16 fighter jet involved in Saudi Arabia-led coalition airstrikes against the Iran-allied Houthi rebels went missing in Yemen Sunday, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said in a statement early Monday. Morocco, which has joined several other Gulf countries that are conducting airstrikes against the rebels, has six F-16 warplanes stationed in the Unites Arab Emirates.

"One of the F-16s of the Royal Armed Force (FAR) made at the disposal of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia to restore the legitimacy in Yemen went missing on Sunday at 6 pm local time," according to FAR's statement carried by the state news agency MAP, Reuters reported.

The pilot of a second plane in the same military unit did not see if the missing plane’s pilot ejected from the plane, the statement reportedly said, adding that an investigation into the incident is underway.

The news comes a day after Houthi fighters in Yemen accepted a five-day humanitarian ceasefire proposed by Saudi Arabia beginning Tuesday.

The Saudi-led coalition began airstrikes against the Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on March 26, aiming to restore the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.