Internet/Hyderabad, Oct 18 (Maxim News): Two Saudi officers were killed when a military helicopter crashed in the Najran region near the Yemen border on Sunday, October 18.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels attributed the crash to a technical malfunction. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the aircraft was an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter belonging to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of National Guard. It crashed inside Saudi territory.
However, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree separately claimed that Houthi forces had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter near Najran. The two accounts identified different aircraft types, and it remains unclear whether they referred to the same incident.
Saudi Helicopter Crash Amid Escalating Houthi Tensions
The crash comes amid renewed fighting between Saudi-led forces and the Houthis. The group has intensified missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets in recent weeks.
The coalition said its air defences intercepted two drones over the Riyadh area and another in the Eastern Province on Saturday night. It also reported intercepting two ballistic missiles launched towards Khamis Mushait.
The latest incident follows a Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The attack reportedly killed 13 people, according to published reports. The escalation has raised concerns about further cross-border attacks and regional instability.
The Houthis have also claimed attacks on Saudi infrastructure and maritime targets in the Red Sea. In response, the Saudi-led coalition has continued airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The cause of the helicopter crash remains disputed. Saudi officials have cited a technical malfunction, while the Houthis have claimed responsibility for shooting down an Apache. Available reports have not independently established that the two statements refer to the same aircraft.
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