Sana'a, Yemen  - A Russian-made fighter jet crashed as it was shelling strongholds of Shiite rebels on the northwestern borders with Saudi Arabia on Friday, the Yemen defence ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the Mig-29 aircraft slammed into a mountain after it malfunctioned during a raid on one of the rebels bases in the Saqain district of Saada province, around 240 kilometers north of the capital Sana'a.

The rebels said in a statement that they shot down the plane, and identified the pilot as lieutenant Shamsan Muhammed Muflih. They did not give details on his fate. (dpa)