WE STAND BY YOU: Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan with the children of a soldier killed in confrontation with Yemeni infiltrators. He visited the families of Lt. Col. Saeed Al-Amri & Maj. Naif Al-Balawi, who were killed in the confrontation. (SPA

JEDDAH: The Chairman of the Supreme Judiciary Council, Saleh Bin-Humaid, said on Sunday that the Kingdom would try the Yemeni infiltrators who attacked a Saudi border post near Jazan two weeks ago.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting Shariah courts in the city, Bin-Humaid said the trials would be carried out in coordination with relevant agencies. He did not give a specific date for the start of the trials.

“The matter will be handled by security and military authorities,” the judiciary chief said, adding that the trials would start soon after the end of the ongoing military operation to cleanse the area of intruders.

Bin-Humaid commended the Saudi security and military forces for their quick and effective actions in driving away the infiltrators.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Yemeni and Saudi forces, continued pounding of intruders’ positions along the border. Saudi Arabia has warned the infiltrators that shelling would continue until they withdraw 10 km from the Saudi-Yemeni border.

Saudi Arabia on Sunday denied press reports that its forces had arrested Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Abdul Malik Al-Houthi. “There is no truth in these reports,” a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said.

In a related development, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif has instructed relevant agencies to provide all support and care for Saudis and expatriates evacuated from the border area.

Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijeri, director general of Civil Defense, said Prince Naif had commended the heroic acts of the military and security forces during their confrontation with the Yemeni intruders. “Prince Naif has instructed the authorities to fulfill all requirements of the displaced people such as food, clothing, medicine and financial assistance,” Al-Tuwaijeri said. More than 1,400 families have been displaced as a result of the operation.

Prince Naif urged the education authorities in Jazan to make sure that the children of the displaced people continue their studies in primary, intermediate and secondary schools in areas where they are relocated.

According to a report carried by Al Arabiya news channel, Pakistani fighters are helping the infiltrators in their fight against Saudi Arabia. “The way the militias operate and the amount of money they spend on the conflict make the involvement of foreign powers almost a certainty,” the channel said quoting Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi.

“Yemeni intelligence is investigating the involvement of external parties in supporting the insurgency,” Al-Qirbi said. “This is a conspiracy to destroy Yemen and the culprits will pay dearly for that,” Al-Qirbi said.

Al-Qirbi denied allegations that the Yemeni government asked for security and military support from the United States. However, he pointed out that there was security cooperation between the two countries in the war on terror.

Saudi forces have arrested a sorcerer attempting to cast magic spells in the conflict zone in support of the intruders, a Saudi newspaper reported. The paper said military officers spotted a “strange-looking” man with long dirty nails and thick tangled hair pulled back in disheveled braids wandering the border town of Jabal Dukhan.

The man was initially believed to be a refugee fleeing the conflict but security forces searched him and found amulets, animal remains and scrolls containing symbols. The man later admitted he was planning to place amulets in the conflict zone to help the trouble-makers sneak across the border and defeat the Saudi forces. When asked why he had long nails, he answered that he was obeying the order of the jinns or spirits.