A Saudi security officer frisks a man in Khuba area of Jazan on Wednesday. (AN photo by Khaled Al-Khamis)

JAZAN: Jazan Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Nasser said on Wednesday that the strong action taken by Saudi Arabia to flush out infiltrators will deter anyone thinking of violating the Kingdom’s borders.

Addressing a group of tribal leaders who came to greet him, Prince Muhammad emphasized the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and its southern neighbor Yemen.

“We have to differentiate between these renegades and other Yemenis who have not done anything wrong,” the governor told the gathering and asked them to treat all Yemenis nicely. He described the incursions and the subsequent Saudi military response as a transient issue. “Everything will return to normal very soon.” He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for showing his deep concern and care for the people of Jazan and his efforts to ensure their welfare and security.

Prince Muhammad said Saudi Arabia has been targeted by enemies who do not like its progress and try to undermine its security and stability.

“It is the duty of citizens to prevent the spread of deviant thoughts and ideologies in the country,” he said, describing the infiltrators as renegades. Tribal leaders and administrative chiefs of major cities in the province spoke during the reception, denouncing the attacks and pledging their support to the Saudi leadership.

Meanwhile, Saudi forces continued their operation to cleanse Jabal Dukhan area of militants. They also arrested a large number of visa overstayers and others who had entered the Kingdom illegally.

Khaled Al-Qaziz, spokesman for the Mujahedeen forces in Jazan, said they had captured 2,002 infiltrators during the past few days.

“We have also arrested an infiltrator carrying an eavesdropping device,” he said.

Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs had earlier stated that it was too early to confirm the total number of infiltrators arrested by Saudi forces. “We need time to distinguish the saboteurs from migrants,” the prince said.

Meanwhile, Yemen on Wednesday rejected any intervention in its internal affairs by any party.

“Yemen rejects any attempt by any party to represent itself as the protector of sons of its people,” the official Saba news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.