Two Saudi soldiers lost their lives in a tragic incident in Najran, near Yemen, while flying an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter. The crash was due to a technical malfunction in the helicopter, and both pilots perished in the incident.
Details of the Incident and Reactions
The spokesman for the Saudi coalition, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, announced that the helicopter crashed in an area under the jurisdiction of the Saudi Ministry of National Guard. This incident occurred following claims by Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, about the downing of a Saudi Apache helicopter in Najran on Saturday. Al-Maliki denied this claim.
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Najran has become a tense area due to ongoing conflicts, where the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi facilities and forces. These conflicts are viewed as another front in the broader U.S.-led war against Iran.
Maritime Threats and Iran's Response
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran announced that two oil tankers caught fire on Saturday due to hitting sea mines. The Iranian Navy also reported a fire on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The Guard emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships passing without Iran's permission.
Additionally, the UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that two attacks on tankers near Saudi Arabia occurred on Friday. One of these attacks involved firing a grenade launcher from a small boat. Iran's claims regarding these attacks have not yet been independently verified.
Despite maritime threats, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, announced that Tehran has proposed a seven-day offer through Qatar to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if specific conditions are met. Araghchi emphasized that the decision in this regard depends on Washington.
At the same time, the U.S. Central Command provided a conflicting assessment, stating that 97% of the ships attempting to pass through the strait have successfully done so without being targeted by Iranian attacks. This force also announced that it has diverted 138 commercial vessels to enforce the blockade of Iranian ports.
Separately, the Saudi coalition reported intercepting ballistic missiles and drones launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh and other areas. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to defend Saudi Arabia if necessary and requested parliamentary approval for potential military assistance.
The U.S. government also stated that the war with Iran will soon come to an end and predicted that fuel prices will decrease after the conflict ends. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran that it would face further military devastation if it does not abandon its nuclear program.
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