The Houthi air force has a single fighter jet — an ancient F-5. The US is very much not afraid of it.

• The Houthi forces in Yemen have just one jet, an old F-5.
• The US has launched airstrikes on the Houthis — which an F-5 probably can't do much about.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have one of the world's strangest fighter jet fleets — a single, aged F-5 fighter jet.

It is unlikely to be much good helping it against the US-led coalition, which carried out air raids last week.

A US official summed up the likely threat the jet poses, calling it "not combat effective."

The claim was made by a US official to Chris Gordon, who covers the Pentagon for Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Houthis, supported by Iran, have conducted a series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, prompting retaliation from the US and its allies in the form of airstrikes.

The US does not appear concerned that its planes would encounter much resistance.

Its air force apparently consists of just one F-5 fighter jet it seized from government forces during the recent civil war.

According to Yemen analyst Joshua Koontz the ageing plane made a surprise appearance with a flyover at a Houthi parade in Sanaa last September.

By contrast, the US has the world's most formidable air force.

The Drive reported that the Houthi plane was likely one of a batch of 12 sent to Yemen by the US in the late 1970s to deter Soviet involvement in fighting in Yemen.

F-5s are supersonic fighter planes rolled out by the US military in the 1960s and 1970s which underwent various upgrades.

Because it is durable and relatively cheap, it was provided to some US allies in the 1970s.

They are heavily outclassed by the cutting-edge US F-35 jets, which are rated as the best fighter aircraft in the world.

They have the world's most powerful engines, and a range of sensors and radar jammers to enhance the pilot's situational awareness and conceal their position.

The National Interest noted that an F-5 might still be able to take down an F-35 if it could ambush one — though it's unlikely it'd be able to get close enough.