Riyadh/Sanaa: Saudi forces have killed hundreds of Yemeni rebels after they refused to leave a Saudi position near the border, a Saudi minister said on Tuesday.
"The infiltrators inflicted upon themselves hundreds of deaths," Deputy Minister of Defence Prince Khaled Bin Sultan told a Saudi television channel near the front line.
"Unfortunately they did not comply," he said in reference to a 48 hour-deadline the infiltrators were given to leave the Al Jabri area where the border post is located.
Earlier on Tuesday, the channel quoted Prince Khaled as saying that four Saudi soldiers have been killed in the clashes at Al Jabri in which he said Saudi forces destroyed Yemeni infiltrators.
With the latest casualties the death toll of Saudi soldiers has reached 82, with 21 missing.
On December 22, Prince Khaled put the toll at 73, with 470 wounded and 26 missing.
Saudi Arabia announced operations against the Yemeni rebels after accusing them of killing a Saudi border guard and occupying two border villages on November 3.
Meanwhile in Yemen, more than 30 Al Houthi rebels were killed and about 30 arrested after clashes with the government troops and tribesmen loyal to the government in in Sa'ada and the neighboring province of Al Jawf, military and tribal sources said Tuesday.
A group of 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce clashes with troops who are currently implementing what they called the final operation to rid the old city of Sa'ada from the rebels, said the sources.
At least 10 more rebels were killed when a group of those who escaped from Sa'ada attacked the house and farm of Ali Sa’ad Fakrah in the village of Al Mabna in Al Zaher district in Al Jawf province, according to tribal sources who participated in the fighting against the rebels.
About 12 soldiers were killed and injured in the operation which was called "Blow to the head", the independent sources said.
-- With inputs from Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
