Saudi coalition says two pilots killed in chopper crash near Yemen

On Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition combating the Houthis reported the tragic loss of two pilots in a helicopter crash near the Yemen border. The coalition attributed the incident to a "technical malfunction," marking their first military fatalities since the conflict with the Houthis escalated in July. This occurred a week after Houthi strikes killed 13 people at Riyadh's international airport, the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in over a decade.

"An AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter belonging to the Ministry of National Guard crashed inside Saudi territory in Najran Region due to a technical malfunction," coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki stated, according to the Saudi Press Agency. "The accident resulted in the martyrdom of its aircrew, consisting of two officers." The Houthis claimed they had "downed an Apache helicopter belonging to the Saudi enemy" in the same area.

The conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis resurfaced with renewed intensity following the group's seizure of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month. The Houthis have targeted Saudi assets, including tankers in the Red Sea, oil facilities, and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. In response, the coalition has carried out numerous air raids on Houthi territory.

The coalition intercepted two drones near Riyadh and a third over the oil-rich Eastern Province. Saudi authorities had issued a threat alert in the capital. Additionally, two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia towards Khamis Mushait were intercepted in the kingdom's south. The Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and captured territory around the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital Red Sea export route for Saudi oil.

On Sunday, Egypt's parliament is scheduled to hold an emergency session as President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seeks support to defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks. Sisi expressed his willingness to "carry out any measure to protect" Saudi Arabia if requested by its leaders.