Donate

A Saudi Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Yemen killing at least 12 military personnel, Saudi’s SPA news agency reported on Tuesday. The helicopter was allegedly downed by the Houthi-Saleh alliance’s forces.

The incident took place in the province of Marib whrere the helicopter was deployed for a combat mission.

SPA’s statement on the issue:

The Coalition Forces Command in Support of Yemen Legitimate Government announced today that, on Tuesday morning 21/7/1438H (18/4/2017), a Black Hawk helicopter of the Saudi Armed Forces crashed while on a mission in Marib. The crash resulted in the martyrdom of four officers and eight rank officers of the Saudi armed forces. The investigations are ongoing to determine the causes of the accident. The Command pray to Almighty Allah to receive their souls into His mercy.

Al Arabia English said that the helicopter was downed:

Military sources allied to Houthi forces argued that the military helicopter had been downed earlier today, the Iranian state-run media outlet Press TV reported.

“They said at least 13 people, including military personnel from Saudi Arabia and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region, were on board the copter when it crashed. The Saudi media said 12 troops were killed. Military officials in Saudi Arabia swiftly confirmed the downing but said it was mistakenly targeted by a missile interception system in Ma’rib that was operated by the United Arab Emirates. Yemenis said, however, that armed forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is allied to Houthis, shot down the aircraft with surface-to-air missiles,” Press TV’s article reads.

Donate