RIYADH: Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, began his official duties on Saturday by visiting members of the armed forces who were injured while confronting Yemeni infiltrators.
Speaking to reporters, Prince Sultan, who returned from abroad on Friday following a yearlong medical trip, commended Saudi forces for defending the Kingdom’s southern borders.
On arrival at the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh, the crown prince was received by Prince Khaled bin Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation for military affairs, Chief of Staff Gen. Saleh Al-Mohayya and Maj. Gen. Kattab Al-Otaibi, director of medical services for the armed forces.
Prince Sultan conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the supreme commander of the armed forces, to injured soldiers and wished them a quick recovery. “I am proud of the bravery displayed by our armed forces personnel while doing their duty in defending the Kingdom and its people,” Prince Sultan said.
The royal visit, Prince Sultan’s first official activity after returning from abroad, reflects his deep concern for members of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives for the Kingdom.
The injured officers expressed their gratitude to Prince Sultan for visiting them in hospital and showing concern for their welfare. They also thanked God for Prince Sultan’s return.
Meanwhile, Saudi armed forces continued their operations in the mountainous areas along the Kingdom’s southern border with Yemen to flush out infiltrators. The armed forces are using unmanned planes to comb areas where the enemy is hiding.
According to a report carried by Al-Watan Arabic daily on Sunday, six more Saudi soldiers recently died fighting Yemeni infiltrators. They are Ali bin Qassim Al-Amri, Saleh Abdu Al-Marhabi, Ahmed Abdullah Al-Shutairy, Jaber bin Yahya Al-Malki, Muhammad Al-Farisy and Abdullah Al-Saan. The men were buried following funeral prayers. Qassim Al-Amri, father of Ali Al-Amri and a retired military officer, said: “My family and I are proud that our son died as a martyr fighting the enemy and defending the Kingdom.”
A large number of people attended Al-Amri’s funeral, which was held in Khamis Mushayt.
