The Saudi armed forces have shown exemplary professionalism under what are trying circumstances. This is not a war for territory but one to defend and protect the security of the nation. Also, the adversary is not a cohesive military force but a militant group that camouflages itself behind civilian cover. While the air force has displayed remarkable accuracy in sighting its targets and ensuring that civilians are not made collateral one must give credit to the less glamorous but more onerous task being fulfilled by the Border Guard. They patrol the long and often porous front-line and are in visual connect with Houthis who have already managed to kill three Guardsmen. Artillery and mortar fire are always a threat and these soldiers based in the very forward zones facing what is known as the Red Line deserve special mention. It is hard on the nerves to be on vigil 24/7 not knowing where the next insurgency will occur.
With the Houthis holding fort in the northern regions like Sadaa their hide-outs in the mountains are a few minutes drive from the border. At night the vigil is even sharper and the Border Guard backed by firepower are engaged in an endless sweep of the terrain on the lookout for the ‘ambush’ party.
Through history perhaps the most difficult part of such scenarios is not being able to identify the weapon carrying ‘hostile’ from the innocent villager or the farmer who might stray into a confrontational situation.
All too often men on the ground are the pivot for the success of any military initiative and it is these men who are literally keeping the nation protected and they deserve a salutation.
Now that summer approaches the conditions get tougher but these well-trained men can endure hardship for the pride with which they defend their borders.
Even as the impasse continues one of the reasons for the high morale in the front-liners is their level of preparedness and credit must go to the long-term planning that has been instrumental in securing Saudi borders. These past six years state of the art surveillance, fencing, activating optical observation posts and establishing lines of communication have brought about a strong first line of defense. This investment is now standing these men in uniform in good stead.
From the live-wire tension of the front-line the global efforts to bring an end to the conflict and make the Houthis engage in dialogue seems like another world.
The saddest revelation is that a large percentage of the Houthi forces are minor children. Instead of class they inhale the stench of cordite. That, in itself, is a reason for the world to call a stop.
