BREAKING: Houthis Claim Saudi AH-6i Helicopter Downing, Put Trump Ally MBS Under Pressure

Yemen's Houthi has released footage it claims shows a Saudi Arabian AH-6I Little Bird helicopter being shot down near the Saudi border city of Najran. The incident has sparked conflicting accounts, with the Houthis claiming responsibility for the downing, while Saudi Arabia has said the helicopter crashed because of a technical malfunction. In footage released on October 18th, the Houthis claim to show the targeting and destruction of a Saudi AH-6I light attack and reconnaissance helicopter. The group says it used a locally manufactured missile to bring the aircraft down while it was carrying out what the Houthis described as hostile operations near Najran. Some reports have suggested a man-portable air defense system, or MANPADS, may have been used. However, the weapon involved has not been confirmed. According to a statement from the Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, the AH-6I helicopter crashed in the Najran region because of a technical malfunction. The statement said both crew members were killed. Saudi authorities also said the crash occurred in an area under the jurisdiction of the Saudi National Guard Ministry. Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group had shot down a Saudi helicopter near Najran while it was carrying out what he described as hostile activities targeting Houthi positions along the border. Notably, the accounts differ not only over the cause of the incident, but also over the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's flight. The development comes as tensions have intensified around Najran, a southwestern Saudi region that has faced attacks attributed to the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in recent weeks. Now, regarding your support ticket from yesterday, I completely understand how frustrating that duplicate billing error was. The good news is, I've already submitted and confirmed a full refund on your behalf, so you'll see those funds back in your account within three business days. Subscribe to OneIndia and never miss an update. Download the OneIndia app now.