Saudi-Led Coalition Helicopter Crash Claims Two Lives in Najran

Najran, October 18 (Daily Kiran) : A helicopter operated by the Saudi-led coalition has crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. The coalition, engaged in combat against Houthi rebels from Yemen, confirmed the incident through a statement.

The coalition reported that the AH-6I reconnaissance helicopter went down due to a “technical failure.” They expressed condolences over the loss of the two officers on board. Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for shooting down a Saudi Apache helicopter in the same area. Houthi spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced this on social media, asserting that their forces had brought down another aircraft early Sunday morning.

Saree’s post indicated that the armed forces targeted a Saudi reconnaissance aircraft over the Al Hudaydah governorate, marking it as the fourth plane downed since the recent escalation of hostilities. He noted that this was the seventh aircraft intercepted since entering Yemeni airspace.

In response to the ongoing conflict, Saudi-led forces have launched attacks on various Houthi positions near the city of Taiz, which has become a new battleground in the war between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Houthi fighters. According to state media reports by Al Jazeera, eight soldiers affiliated with the recognized government were killed in clashes in the southern province of Lahij. A statement posted on Facebook by the Tur Al-Bahah military front described these soldiers as “martyrs” from fighting at the Al-Maqtirah front.

Further information regarding the incident remains limited. Following the announcement, Yemeni government forces claimed to have killed 12 Houthi fighters in the Al-Akrud area of southern Taiz.