JAZAN: Saudi forces continued pounding rebel positions on the Saudi-Yemeni border on Monday causing heavy losses to Yemeni infiltrators.

“The Saudi Royal Air Force launched several strikes at rebel positions accompanied by artillery shelling by ground forces inflicting heavy losses on the rebels on Monday morning. The ground forces continued search and flush operations to clear the area close to the border ... Saudi Naval Forces also continued operations,” said sources at the Saudi-Yemen border.

Interior Minister Prince Naif said on Sunday that it could not be ruled out whether the infiltrators are in contact or coordination, with Al-Qaeda.

Saudi authorities have detained many infiltrators and violators of residence regulations in villages along the border.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Jazan Abdullah Al-Qarni has sent teams to open a medical center at an evacuee camp, and ensure people have electricity and access to other basic utilities. Fourteen cars with doctors and health workers have been assigned to spray insecticides twice a day in the camps and their surrounding areas, and fill pools of stagnant water, which are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The area has also been supplied with 450 garbage boxes. Searchlights have also been installed in the area. Municipal inspectors will be checking the quality of food supplied at the shelters on a daily basis.

Relief has also been pouring in from other parts of Kingdom. About 1,000 food baskets containing items such as blankets, rice, dates, olives, flour, sugar and milk have been sent by Al-Zad Charity in Buraidah.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health have been jointly organizing various seminars in evacuee camps to enable people to face the crises.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowment, Call and Guidance has also organized programs to offer moral and emotional support to people in the border towns and villages.