The Border Guard at Al-Towal has evacuated nearly 30 families living along the Saudi-Yemeni border since the start of Decisive Storm, according to Col. Saleh Al-Omari, head of the Border Guard in the province.

Al-Omari said the majority of these families have children in Saudi schools and universities and own homes along the border region. They had requested to be evacuated.

Each of these families comprises on average five members. All were evacuated without injury and are currently staying in houses elsewhere in the Kingdom.

Al-Omari said the Border Guard at Al-Towal have seen a decline in the number of infiltration and smuggling since the start of the recent events. “We are still experiencing smuggling and infiltration attempts, but the numbers have declined significantly. We still see smuggling of qat and other illegal narcotics," he said. “Every day, on average of 700 kilograms of qat are seized. About 70 people, ranging in age from seven to 20 years are detained.”

Smugglers are mostly Yemeni nationals, while infiltrators are of various nationalities, explained Al-Omari, noting that the percentage of women involved in such activities has increased since Decisive Storm. He expressed concerns about the exploitation of children who smuggle qat and other narcotics, and weapons across the border.

“A child takes 25 packages of qat, or the equivalent of SR20, in exchange for smuggling, while the market value of this amount is about SR500,” he said.

He said there has been no casualties among Border Guard soldiers in Al-Towal in the past four months.

As for the evacuation of nationals, Al-Omari said this is the responsibility of the General Directorate of Passports. The Border Guard assists by protecting and ensuring the safety of evacuees between ports. Egyptian, Jordanian, Yemeni, Indonesian and American nationals have been evacuated across the border, he said.

Reports of terrorism or suspected terrorists are received around-the-clock, both from security officers or citizens, and all calls are taken seriously and treated appropriately.

Meanwhile, commander of Border Guard in Asir, Maj. Gen. Safar Al-Ghamdi, said that the borders are safe thanks to the watchful eyes of Border Guard troops. He asserted that smuggling and infiltration attempts have decreased following the alliance airstrikes against Houthi militias in Yemen.