Saudi-led coalition says 2 pilots killed in helicopter crash near Yemen border

The Saudi-led coalition announced on Sunday that two pilots lost their lives when their helicopter crashed near Yemen's border due to a technical malfunction, marking the first military fatalities since hostilities resumed in July, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter, part of the Saudi national guard, was destroyed in Saudi territory in the Najran region.

This incident follows the reignition of Yemen's conflict in July, which intensified after the Iran-backed Houthi group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month. Since the start of the conflict, the Saudi-led coalition, supporting the internationally recognized government, has conducted numerous air strikes against Houthi targets.

The Houthis, in retaliation, have targeted Saudi interests, including vessels in the Red Sea, oil facilities, and Riyadh's international airport, where 13 individuals lost their lives in a single attack last week.