RIYADH: Saudi forces have arrested 821 Yemenis and Africans attempting to sneak across the southern border from Yemen over the past two weeks, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on Friday.
The crackdown took place in the region where Saudi forces are fighting Yemeni infiltrators, security sources told the London-based newspaper.
Saudi forces are using thermal cameras to monitor the border zone for people attempting to enter the country, the newspaper said.
It did not distinguish whether the people arrested were suspected infiltrators, fugitives from the fighting or economic migrants seeking jobs.
In the wake of incursions by the rebels, Riyadh has sought to shut down the rugged, porous border, clearing out inhabitants from a 10 km zone on the Saudi side and attempting to enforce a similar-sized buffer on the opposite side, security experts say.
Saudis fear the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula has been able to smuggle militants and weapons across the border in order to plot attacks against Saudi targets.
Asharq Al-Awsat said there was little sign on the border of the fighting that erupted on Nov. 3 after the infiltrators incursion into Jazan province sparked the Saudi military’s biggest mobilization since the 1990-91 Gulf War.
