JAZAN: The number of missing Saudi soldiers fighting at the southern border with Yemen has been reduced to six after 20 bodies were recently recovered, Assistant Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan announced Saturday.
“The bodies of the martyrs were found after we liberated and purged the mountains of Al-Dukhan, Al-Rimaih and Al-Doud,” he said.
The discovery of the bodies brings the official number of Saudi soldier deaths in the fighting to 133. The minister made his statement during a visit to Saudi troops stationed in Al-Ghawyah. The prince said the area is now completely under Saudi control.
“The military training of the infiltrators and their arms and means of storage prove they have been harboring bad intentions toward us for years and that they were supported in this by other parties,” said Prince Khaled.
When reporters asked the prince whether the infiltrators had any links with Al-Qaeda, he said: “We have confirmed information ... that there is communication and coordination between the two groups.”
“In order to carry out my assignment,” Prince Khaled continued, “I have to use all my weapons so that the enemy will think a thousand times before considering to attack a single inch of our territory. There will be no mercy for any aggressor.”
The minister said the troop presence at the border would remain, “as long as there is need for them and until all the problems in the border area are solved in coordination with the Ministry of Interior.”
He said the Saudis can bide their time and that the military did not rush in with guns blazing in an attempt to reduce civilian casualties.
“Time is with us,” he said. “There is no need to hurry. We could have controlled all the areas in a month, or two weeks, but we opted not to rush in order to preserve souls.”
The prince said the rebels are “fatigued” and that their arms have been depleted. He also dismissed rumors that the rebels brought down an Apache helicopter piloted by the Saudi Air Force.
Asked about losses, the prince said two Hummer vehicles carrying rebels were destroyed, as well as an armored vehicle, a Toyota pickup truck, a water tanker truck and 13 high-caliber machine guns.
Prince Khaled also revealed that there were plans to set up a military city and housing units for military men in Jazan city.
