Fifty‑four years ago, a Russian‑made Ilyushin military aircraft flew over the Najran region, firing its rockets onto Saudi territory. Moments later, the hostile aircraft was stunned to find itself targeted by anti‑aircraft fire that successfully struck and brought it down—an astonishing story of courage that is far from unusual among the soldiers of this nation.
Timeframe: 1962 — Event: The Yemeni Civil War
In 1962, the Yemeni Civil War erupted after a military coup led by Field Marshal Abdullah al‑Sallal against the ruling Yemeni Imam, Muhammad al‑Badr. Chaos and destruction spread across Yemen, prompting Imam al‑Badr to seek assistance from the Saudi government during the reign of King Saud bin Abdulaziz. In a scenario reminiscent of today, Saudi Arabia launched military operations in support of Yemen’s legitimate government against the coup led by al‑Sallal and backed by a certain Arab state.
Despite the modest military capabilities of Saudi Arabia at that early stage of its modern statehood, it provided all it could to support Yemen and fortified its borders with adequate defenses to prevent any hostile incursions by the coup forces and their supporters.
The Day the Aircraft Was Shot Down
In 1963, a Russian‑made Ilyushin warplane violated Saudi airspace over Najran, firing rockets onto Saudi soil. On the ground, in an area known as al‑Marāṭah, stood an anti‑aircraft gun—far inferior to the aircraft in capability, but manned by a Saudi soldier who feared no death in defense of his homeland.
Due to the limited manpower of the Saudi Armed Forces at the time, only two soldiers were assigned to operate the anti‑aircraft gun. One of them was absent due to an injury, leaving the gunner, Private Mohammed Mohsen al‑Su’ayb al‑Wādi‘i, to operate the weapon alone—his name destined to be written in gold in the history of the Saudi Armed Forces.
As the aircraft flew overhead, continuing its bombardment, the soldier began loading and firing the gun. But he faced a major challenge: performing two tasks that normally required more than one soldier—loading and firing—simultaneously.
At that moment, a Saudi woman standing near a nearby well noticed his struggle. She approached him and offered her help. He asked her to bring the shells closer so he could load and fire as quickly as possible. The brave woman, Sayyidah bint Hadi al‑Yami, rushed to assist him.
Together, they achieved what seemed impossible: one of the shells struck the Ilyushin aircraft, bringing it down over Mount Hamdan. The wreckage was later retrieved and placed beside the Emirate of Najran by order of the regional governor, Khalid al‑Sudairi.
Recognition and Honor
The news spread quickly despite the absence of modern media and communication tools. The Saudi government honored both the heroic soldier and the courageous woman. Private Mohammed Mohsen al‑Su’ayb received awards and financial rewards, while Sayyidah bint Hadi al‑Yami was granted a royal stipend for life.
This story—perhaps being shared publicly for the first time—revives the memory of the heroes of the Saudi Armed Forces across generations, linking the bravery of the past with the valor of the present.
