Saudi continues bombardment of Houthi rebels

Riyadh: After a night-long artillery fire, Saudi forces reduced the intensity of its attacks on Sunday at Jabal Al Doub and Jabal Al Dhokan mountain regions south west of Al Khoba where Al Houthi infiltrators were believed to be hiding. At the same time, Saudi fighter planes continued pounding the rebel positions along the vast stretch of border regions.

Speaking to Gulf News on phone from the front line, a senior Saudi military commander said that the continued air raids and ground attacks that began more than one week ago, inflicted heavy losses on Al Houthi rebels.

“The ground forces will continue combing all the areas where from rebels directed attacks toward the forces,” he said adding that several infiltrators were captured by the army. “Some of these rebels were carrying light arms while others hid their weapons at some specific areas to be used later,” he said. Huge quantity of currency notes were also seized from them. Various units of armed forces, including border guards, special emergency forces, Mujahideen, Jizan police and military police, are continuing patrolling the entire region close to the border in Khoba, where all residents were evacuated earlier.

The Saudi forces are using thermal detection equipment and satellite surveillance. Commandos were sent in under aerial cover and flares. Several rebels hiding among civilians had earlier been detained by the military and found to have in their possession quantities of money, weapons and maps of Saudi strategic locations.

Many members of tribes living in the mountainous regions along the border are coming forward to support the armed forces in their operation to drive out the remaining rebels. Tribal chieftains have established check points to curb infiltration of any more rebels. 
 

Pamphlets

Meanwhile, Al Hayat newspaper reported that the Saudi security forces seized several pamphlets circulated among rebels concealed in sugarcanes. The pamphlets were virtually a “recommendation for entering Paradise” for those fighting against Saudi armed forces. The pamphlets were aimed at inciting passion of young Al Houthi rebels to fight bravely against the enemies. “It encourages Al Houthi infiltrators on the warfront that those who are successful in killing a Saudi soldier will enter paradise directly,” the newspaper reported quoting security sources.

Refugees

A boy was born at a refugee camp erected at Ahad Al Masariha, in the Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi woman named her son Abdullah, after King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. “My wife and children and I decided to name the new member as Abdullah in a gesture to thank the monarch for his utmost keenness in providing the displaced people the best possible services and facilities,” the Saudi father of the baby said.

Hundreds of Saudi families are living in camps erected far from the border after being evacuated from scores of villages in the border regions, especially Al Khoba earlier this month.