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On June 23, Israeli defense observer Observer IL released a satellite image revealing the damage caused by a Houthi drone attack on Najar International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia last month.
#THREAD – 1. #Najran Airport #KSA Houthis Drone attack on 23.05.19 Geolocated and confirmed. 1 x AH-64 probably out of service as a result of the Qasef-2 impact. Ammo Depot intact as the rest of the airport, seen here on @Maxar sat imagery from the day of the attack. #GEOINT pic.twitter.com/iOBp9s3BJn
— Observer IL – #OSINT Analysis (@Obs_IL) June 23, 2019
The image confirms that the attack, which apparently took place last May, destroyed or damaged at least one of four AH-64 Apache attack helicopters that were stationed in the airport’s military section.
2 and END. Pre ans Post strike Timelapse between 02.05.19 and 23.05.19 showing the scar on the apron. #GEOINT #Yemen #Houthis #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/kpex93WGqp
— Observer IL – #OSINT Analysis (@Obs_IL) June 23, 2019
More than 30 Apache attack helicopters are in active service with the Saudi Arabian National Guard Forces (SANGF). Saudi Apache helicopters participate in military operations along the border with Yemen on a regular basis.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the Qasef-2k type, a direct copy of the Iranian Ababil-2, were reportedly used in the attack on Najran International Airport. This type of suicide UAVs is armed with a heavy high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead that explodes 20m over the target.
In the last two months, the Houthis intensified their attacks on southern Saudi airports with suicide drones, precision-guided rockets and even cruise missiles. The rebel group says that these attacks are a response to the Saudi blockade on Yemen’s airport.
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