73 Saudis killed in fight against Yemeni rebels: minister

Seventy-three Saudis have been killed and 26 are missing since fighting broke out in November between Saudi forces and Yemeni rebels, a Saudi minister told reporters.

Updated on: Dec 22, 2009, 19:31:38 IST

AFP | By HT Correspondent, Al-Khoba (Saudi Arabia)

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Seventy-three Saudis have been killed and 26 are missing since fighting broke out in November between Saudi forces and Yemeni rebels, a Saudi minister told reporters on Tuesday.

"The confrontation on the southern border" has resulted in "73 martyrs and 26 missing," said Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan in comments broadcast on television from a media conference in Al-Khoba in southern Jizan province.

It was not immediately clear how many of the dead and missing were soldiers.

Fighting between Saudi forces and Yemeni Shiite rebels, also known as Huthis, began on November 3 when the rebels killed a Saudi border guard and occupied two villages inside Saudi territory.

Saudi jets began bombing Huthi positions the following day. The Huthis have also been fighting Yemeni forces sporadically since 2004. The latest round broke out after government troops launched "Operation Scorched Earth," an all-out assault against the rebels, on August 11.

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.