A technical malfunction tore an AH‑6i reconnaissance helicopter from the sky, sending it into Najran Region’s dust. The Ministry of National Guard said both pilots—officers in their mid‑30s—were killed on Sunday, marking the first coalition death since the July flare‑up. Coalition spokesman Turki al‑Malki confirmed the accident was due to a "technical malfunction" and that the aircrew had been lost.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree countered, claiming the aircraft had been shot down by the Iran‑backed insurgents. The group last month seized strategic coastal territory and had previously struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport, killing 13 people. Their narrative echoes last year’s claim of an Apache destruction.
Saudi‑led coalition has intensified air raids, intercepting two drones overnight and a third over Eastern Province. Two ballistic missiles were intercepted over Khamis Mushait, while the coalition continues to target Houthi positions along the Red Sea coast. The maritime blockade around the Bab al‑Mandab strait has tightened, threatening Saudi oil exports.
Egypt’s parliament is set to convene an emergency session after President Abdel Fattah al‑Sisi urged lawmakers to authorise defensive support for Saudi Arabia. Sisi stressed that any action would be defensive, not offensive. In Najran, a farmer’s family watches the skies, recalling the last time air raids rattled their village.
The coalition has announced a scheduled aerial sweep over Najran tomorrow, aiming to secure the region amid escalating Houthi activity.