DEATHS AS HOUTHI IN YEMEN ATTACK SAUDI BORDER

Border Guard personnel in Asir Province are on full alert 24/7 to protect the southern border region against any possible attacks by Houthi rebels. (Photo: Saudi Gazette file)

Riyadh, 24 Jumadil Akhir 1436/13 April 2015 (MINA) – Houthi faction in Yemen have fired a mortar round at a Saudi Arabian border post, killing three Saudi officers and wounding two others, Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry says.

A statement from the ministry on Saturday said that the incident took place the previous day in the Saudi border province of Najran.

The Saudi forces responded with gunfire, the statement said, Al Jazeera quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The ministry statement also said that since its campaign against the Houthis began last month, 500 Houthi fighters had been killed in clashes along the border.

Earlier this month, three Saudi border guards were killed in separate fighting with the Houthis.

Meanwhile, in Aden, more than two dozen fighters and civilians died in fighting between Houthi rebels and gunmen loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, as the Saudi-led coalition intensified its air strikes in and around Yemen’s capital Sanaa.

The coalition said that it was targeting suspected weapons storage sites used by the Houthis.

The air raids, which hit the Defence Ministry and facilities including al-Hafa military camp, lasted for several hours, Sanaa residents told the Reuters news agency.

The Republican Guard was also targeted in the 17th straight day of coalition air strikes on the country.

The strikes came after fierce clashes in Aden killed at least 25 people, Agence France-Presse news agency reported. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)