Saudi Helicopter Crash Kills Two Officers in Najran

A Saudi National Guard AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed in the Najran region of southwestern Saudi Arabia on Sunday, killing both crew members. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a coalition spokesperson, attributed the crash to a technical malfunction. These deaths represent the first military fatalities since hostilities between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi militia reignited in July.

The crash occurred amid a surge in regional military activity. The coalition reported intercepting and destroying multiple drones over Saudi territory, including in the Riyadh region. On Saturday evening, coalition forces also neutralized two ballistic missiles launched by Houthi militias toward Khamis Mushait.

In response to these attacks, the coalition destroyed two Houthi ballistic missile launch platforms located in northern Yemen.