Bahraini pilot survives F-16 jet crash in Jazan

JEDDAH: A Bahraini pilot flying for the Saudi-led alliance battling Houthis in Yemen survived a jet crash on Wednesday along the Kingdom’s southern border.
The F-16 jet burst into flames when it crashed due to technical failure on the road between Fifa and Al-Aridha provinces east of Jazan, the coalition announced in a statement.
Several security agencies, including Civil Defense teams rushed to the site and were able to douse the fire.
Aircraft commander Capt. Ali Jassim was hospitalized and Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa confirmed the pilot’s safety on his Twitter account.
The coalition also announced that the Saudi Air Defense Force successfully shot down a ballistic missile on Wednesday morning fired from Yemeni territory toward Jazan. No damage was reported.
Saudi forces have since the launch of the Operation Decisive Storm nine months ago shot down several missiles launched by Houthis across the border, without causing any damage or material losses, the coalition said.


On Tuesday, Bahrain announced the death of two of its soldiers along the Yemeni border.

They are Capt. Ahmed Mohammed Amin and Capt. Mubarak Saad Al-Rumaihi.

Bahrain is part of the Saudi-led coalition conducting airstrikes against Houthi positions since March at the request of Yemen’s president in exile.