A reconnaissance helicopter belonging to the Saudi-led coalition crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia on Sunday, killing both crew members on board. The incident was confirmed by coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki, who attributed the crash to a technical malfunction.
The AH-6i helicopter went down in an area under the jurisdiction of the Saudi National Guard Ministry. Najran, located in the southwestern part of the kingdom, has faced repeated attacks from Iran-aligned Houthi forces in recent weeks. Fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Yemen-based group has intensified, turning the Yemen conflict into another front in the broader US-led confrontation with Iran.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on Saturday that the group had shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter near Najran. He stated that the aircraft was engaged in hostile activities against Houthi positions along the border. Al-Maliki responded to the claim the following day by posting a photo of several Apache helicopters and writing that the claimed downed aircraft would soon return to the battlefield.
The crash comes at a time when Saudi Arabia remains on high alert due to a renewed wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks. Since the Yemen conflict reignited in July after a long pause, the kingdom has faced sustained strikes targeting oil facilities, tankers, and transit hubs. One recent attack on Riyadh’s airport killed 13 people.
On Saturday, Saudi authorities reported intercepting another wave of drones. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed readiness to support Saudi Arabia, stating that Egypt would take any necessary measures to protect the kingdom if requested. He noted that while Egypt does not seek involvement in regional conflicts, it cannot stand by while Saudi security and stability face threats.
The latest helicopter incident highlights the ongoing risks along the Saudi-Yemen border as tensions continue to escalate. Coalition officials maintain that the crash resulted from a technical issue rather than enemy action, while Houthi claims remain unverified by independent sources. Investigations into the exact cause are expected to continue in the coming days.
