2 killed in helicopter crash near Saudi-Yemen border

RIYADH, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Sunday that two officers were killed when their helicopter crashed due to a "technical malfunction" near the border with Yemen.

The AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter, belonging to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of National Guard, went down inside Saudi territory in the Najran region, resulting in the death of its crew of two officers, coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Malki said on social media platform X.

Also on Sunday, coalition forces announced interceptions of drones and missiles across different regions of the kingdom amid escalating regional tensions.

In separate statements, Al-Malki said three drones were intercepted and destroyed, two over the Riyadh region and one over the Eastern Province.

He also confirmed that two ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi group targeting the southwestern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait were intercepted and destroyed.

The statements made no mention of any casualties or damage caused by the interceptions of the drones and ballistic missiles.