JEDDAH: Col. Hassan Ghasoum Ageeli, Border Guard commander of Jazan’s Al-Harth sector was killed alongside his assistant Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Hazazi in an exchange of fire between Saudi forces and Houthi rebels allied with Yemen’s deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Interior Ministry security spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said that border guard patrols were driving on the road near the border 6 p.m. on Friday when they struck a landmine resulting in damage to several of the vehicles.

The soldiers left their vehicles and when their colleagues arrived at the site, they were exposed to heavy fire coming from different locations inside the Yemeni territory,” Al-Turki said.

The Saudi forces responded immediately from their protective positions and exchanged fire with the hostile elements until they controlled the situation. Four colleagues also sustained minor injuries and were transferred to hospital.

Security forces described Col. Ageeli as a brave man who always paid attention to his men on the front lines.